Protein nanowire thin films for the potential of constructing green electronic devices

Abstract

Protein nanowires harvested from microbes G. sulfurreducens are a renewable, green electronic material. Electronic devices made from protein nanowires show novel or improved functions in energy harvesting, computing and sensing. First, thin film assembled from protein nanowires is used to construct air generator (air-gen) that can continuously harvest electricity from air humidity, unveiling the potential of continuous and ubiquitous clean energy harvesting. Second, memristors and neuromorphic devices constructed from protein nanowires function at biological amplitude (<100 mV), creating opportunities for ultralow-power electronics and bioelectronic interfaces. Third, electronic sensors made from protein nanowires show enhanced performance for analyte detection. Finally, prototyped microsystems are integrated from above protein nanowire devices to show the potential of fabricating green electronics from biosynthetic nanowire materials.