Protein switches incorporating cytochrome C3 in monolayers and method for producing same
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorKrishna K. Deb
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Abstract
A biomolecular electronic switch includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, a programmable monolayer of either cytochrome c or cytochrome c3 or bovine serum hormone sandwiched between the first and second electrical contacts and a substrate. These switches have high current-carrying capacities and are very fast. It appears that these protein materials can be either metals or semiconductors. Because of the high conductivity and tiny size, these globular proteins can be used to develop cost-effective, miniaturized FEDs, molecular diodes and rectifiers for nanocomputer chips.
Claims7
A biomolecular switch, comprising:
- a first electrical contact;
- a second electrical contact;
- a monolayer of cytochrome c3 sandwiched between and in direct contact with the first and second electrical contacts;
- and
- a substrate.
A biomolecular electronic switch comprising:
- a first electrical contact comprising a pure aluminum electrode 40-100 Å thick;
- a layer of electrode selected from the group of titanium or platinum, 30-80 Å thick, directly under the pure aluminum electrode;
- a monolayer of cytochrome C3 40 Å thick directly under the layer of electrode selected from the group of titanium or platinum;
- a layer of aluminum oxide electrode 30-80 Å thick, directly under the monolayer of cytochrome C3;
- a layer of pure aluminum electrode 50-100 Å thick, directly under the layer of aluminum oxide;
- a layer of silicon dioxide directly under the aluminum electrode;
- and
- a layer of silicon substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.