Nanostructured viruses are attractive for use as templates for ordering quantum dots to make self-assembled building blocks for next-generation electronic devices. So far, only a few types of electronic devices have been fabricated from biomolecules due to the lack of charge transport through biomolecular junctions. Here, we show a novel electronic memory effect by incorporating platinum nanoparticles into tobacco mosaic virus. The memory effect is based on conductance switching, which leads to the occurrence of bistable states with an on/off ratio larger than three orders of magnitude. The mechanism of this process is attributed to charge trapping in the nanoparticles for data storage and a tunnelling process in the high conductance state. Such hybrid bio-inorganic nanostructures show promise for applications in future nanoelectronics.

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is an analogue of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and possesses a neutral backbone that affords stronger hybridization, greater stability and higher specificity in base pairing. However, it has not been explored as much as DNA in self-assembling functional nanostructures or nanoelectronic devices. We report here for the first time the metallization of PNA with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles via chemical binding, reduction and deposition. Pt ions from a precursor salt solution are allowed to bind over the PNA fragments followed by a reduction and then growth into metal nanoparticles. PNA–Pt complexes form chains several hundred nanometres in length and by varying the duration of chemical reduction step, the dimension of the Pt nanoparticles can be controlled. The structural features and chemical composition of PNA–Pt nanoparticles have been characterized via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. These results are also supported by modelling and analysis of the nature of high-lying molecular orbitals on PNA using density functional theory (DFT) method.

Fabrication of perforated organometallic nanotubes using a di-rhodium bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) complex by a simple nanoporous template wetting technique is described along with characterization data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), proton NMR and Mass spectroscopy.

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Hybrid virus/inorganic nanoscrystals are considered as important building blocks towards new types of functionality for electronic devices. We use tobacco mosaic viruses to assemble platinum nanoparticles and conjugate with quantum dots. By forming a thin hybrid nanocomposite layer in the crossbar junction, we show electronic memory effect based on electrical bistable states with a large on/off ratio, and long retention time. Such hybrid bioinorganic nanostructures for the first time are promising for future bio-inspired nanoelectronics.

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