Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-5wvtr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T17:14:39.318Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Structural and Electrical Characterization of Diatom Pinnularia sp. Biosilica Coated with CdS Thin Film

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Timothy Gutu ,
Clayton Jeffryes ,
Wei Wang ,
Chih-hung Chang ,
Gregory Rorrer  and
Jun Jiao
Timothy Gutu
Affiliation:
tgutu@pdx.edu, Portland State University, Physics, 1719 SW 10th Ave., Room 128, Portland, Oregon, 97201, United States, 503-725-8061, 503-725-2815
Clayton Jeffryes
Affiliation:
claytoje@engr.orst.edu, Oregon state University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Wei Wang
Affiliation:
wangweicomcn163@gmail.com, Oregon state University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Chih-hung Chang
Affiliation:
chih-hung.chang@oregonstate.edu, Oregon state University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Gregory Rorrer
Affiliation:
rorrergl@engr.orst.edu, Oregon state University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Jun Jiao
Affiliation:
jiaoj@pdx.edu, Portland State University, Physics, Portland, Oregon, United States
Get access

Abstract

Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic microalgae that live in marine and freshwater environments. The cell walls of diatoms are composed of biosilica and have exceedingly hierarchical ornate nanostructures. Consequently, these nanostructures have long been regarded as the paradigm for future silica nanotechnology. We have coated diatom Pinnularia sp. biosilica with a thin film of CdS using a chemical bath deposition technique. Possible uses for these CdS coated diatoms include the development of new nanodevice fabrication techniques and optoelectronic applications. Electron microscopy techniques were utilized to study their morphologies. Their electrical characteristics were investigated using an Agilent 4156C precision semiconductor parameter analyzer and a Cascade probe station. The CdS coating was found to be dense, adherent and nanostructured. The diatoms coated with CdS exhibited both metallic and semiconductor diode behavior.

Keywords

nanostructureelectrical propertiesthin film
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1187: Symposium KK – Structure-Property Relationships in Biomineralized and Biomimetic Composites , 2009 , 1187-KK05-20
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Sumper, M. and Brunner, E., Adv. Funct. Mater., 16, (2006).10.1002/adfm.200500616Google Scholar
2 Falkowski, P.G. and Raven, J.A., Blackwell Science, (1997).Google Scholar
3 Umemura, K., Yamada, T., Maeda, Y., Kobayashi, K., Kuroda, R. and Mayama, S., Journal of Nanotechnology, 5, (2007)Google Scholar
4 Parker, A.R. and Townley, H.E., Nature nanotechnology, 2, (2007).10.1038/nnano.2007.152Google Scholar
5 Drum, R.W. and Gordon, R., Trends in Biotechnology, 21, (2003)10.1016/S0167-7799(03)00169-0Google Scholar
6 Kröger, N. and Poulsenl, N., Annu. Rev. Genet., 42, (2008).10.1146/annurev.genet.41.110306.130109Google Scholar
7 Stefano, L. De, Maddalen, P., Moretti, L., Rea, I., Rendina, I., Tommasi, E. De, Mocella, V. and Stefano, M. De, Superlattices and Microstructures, doi:10.1016/j.spmi.2008.10.031Google Scholar