Advanced Materials, Vol.14, No.20, 1453-1453, 2002
Solid-state molecular rectifier based on self-organized metalloproteins
A protein-based solid-state electronic device that operates in air is reported; it is fabricated by interconnecting an azurin monolayer immobilized on SiO2 with two gold nanoelectrodes. The operating mechanism is ascribed to resonant tunneling through the redox active center, combined with macroscopic polarization of the oriented self-organized protein layer. The Figure shows the molecular electrostatic potential of the oxidized protein.