Printable logic circuits comprising self-assembled protein complexes

Abstract

This paper describes the fabrication of digital logic circuits comprising resistors and diodes made from protein complexes and wired together using printed liquid metal electrodes. These resistors and diodes exhibit temperature-independent charge-transport over a distance of approximately 10 nm and require no encapsulation or special handling. The function of the protein complexes is determined entirely by self-assembly. When induced to self-assembly into anisotropic monolayers, the collective action of the aligned dipole moments increases the electrical conductivity of the ensemble in one direction and decreases it in the other. When induced to self-assemble into isotropic monolayers, the dipole moments are randomized and the electrical conductivity is approximately equal in both directions. We demonstrate the robustness and utility of these all-protein logic circuits by constructing pulse modulators based on AND and OR logic gates that function nearly identically to simulated circuits. These results show that digital circuits with useful functionality can be derived from readily obtainable biomolecules using simple, straightforward fabrication techniques that exploit molecular self-assembly, realizing one of the primary goals of molecular electronics.

An artificial synapse based on molecular junctions

“…Molecular electronic components such as switch 6 , rectifier (cf. diode) 7 , transistor 8 , memory 9 , 10 , and basic logic gates 11 , 12 have been created. The development of molecular electronics is still on its way to replacing silicon electronics in which the information is processed based on the von Neumann architecture.…”

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“…These includes their capability of catalyzing a large number of reactions; their properties in terms of chemical recognition and selectivity; their mechanical and optoelectronic properties; their biocompatibility. The use of proteins has indeed been proposed for sensors, electrical noses, solar cells, field-effect transistors and flexible implants [5][6][7]. One of the traits which make proteins promising candidates for active components in electrical devices is their extremely efficient electron-transport properties over large distances [3,8].…”

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