Interfacial Self-Assembly of Silk Fibroin Polypeptides and alpha-NiCo(OH)(2) Nanocrystals with Tunable Energy Storage Applications

Author(s)

do Nascimento, Eduardo R. ; Gerbelli, Barbara B. ; Ferreira, Fabio F. ; Costa, Fanny N. ; Chater, Philip A. ; Alves, Wendel A.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS; v. 4, n. 3, p. 11-pg., 2022-03-22.

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the self-assembly process from a bottom-up approach to synthesize functional structures for engineering applications. Silk fibroin is a protein extracted from the cocoons of silkworm Bombyx mori that can be processed into various materials generally stabilized by the induction of beta-sheet formation through the use of solvents or by physical stretching. In our study, the introduction of cobalt-substituted nickel hydroxide nanoparticles on silk fibroin presented a dual effect causing the stabilization of the a polymorph of nickel hydroxide and promoting a highly connected network of the beta-sheet crystalline domain in the fibroin chains. Electrochemical measurements were performed to examine silk fibroin (SF)/NiCo(OH)(2) hybrid materials. The optimized sample exhibits a high specific capacity of 362 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1), maintaining steady electrochemical performance >75% of the initial value at higher current densities. The presented assembly provides a route for preparing monodisperse inorganic nanoparticles in the presence of SF as an organic matrix with potential energy storage properties. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/16491-7 - Influence of nickel hydroxide nanoparkets in self-assemble structure of fibroin microparticles
• Grantee: Eduardo Ruben do Nascimento
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 18/05888-3 - Biosensors based on amphiphilic peptides for detection and diagnosis of diseases
• Grantee: Barbara Bianca Gerbelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/50867-3 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalysis
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/02317-2 - Interfaces in materials: electronic, magnetic, structural and transport properties
• Grantee: Adalberto Fazzio
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants