Metallopeptide-inspired pyridine-bis-tyrosine peptide conjugate mediated facile room temperature synthesis of ultrafine solid mercury nanoparticles for plausible applications

Abstract

Metallopeptide-inspired, pyridine-bis-tyrosine short peptide conjugate was developed which coordinates Hg(II) ions and hence was further used for the formation of solid mercury nanoparticles at ambient conditions. The formation of solid mercury nanoparticles was obtained from the transformation of stable mercury nanodrops which are guided by peptide nanostructures. Our results showed that initially Hg(II) ions get converted into Hg(0) nanodrops(HgNDs) and stabilized by peptide envelope which subsequently transformed into solid HgNPs with the help of time-dependent electron beam exposure under peptide nanostructure envelope. The solid HgNPs exhibit remarkable rhombohedral morphology and are found crystalline at room temperature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of peptide-mediated electron beam-induced facile synthesis of solid mercury nanoparticles from less toxic Hg(II) ions at room temperature.