VNPs as Templates for Materials Synthesis - Viral Nanoparticles: Tools for Materials Science and Biomedicine - page 159

Figure 6.13 Schematic diagram of the process used to generate nanocrystal

alignment by the phage display method (left panel). Characterization of the liquid
crystalline suspensions of M13 phage-ZnS nanocrystals and cast film. (a) Polarized
optical microscopic image of a smectic suspension of M13-ZnS at a concentration
of 127 mg/ml. (b) Differential interference contrast imaging brought out dark and
bright periodic stripes (~1

m) that show constructive and destructive interference
patterns generated from parallel-aligned smectic layers in the M13-ZnS suspension.
(c) The characteristic fingerprint texture of the cholesteric phase of an M13-ZnS
suspension (76 mg/ml). (d) Atomic force microscopic micrograph of a cast film from
an M13-ZnS suspension (~30 mg/ml) showing close-packed structures of the M13-
phage particles. Reproduced with permission from Lee, S. W., Mao, C., Flynn, C. E.,
and Belcher, A. M. (2002) Ordering of quantum dots using genetically engineered
viruses,

µ

Science , 296 (5569), 892-895.

It has been shown that the metalized M13-based materials can be self-
assembled into higher-order structures (Lee ., 2002, 2006a). For example,

M13 phages with terminal ZnS nanocrystals were assembled into films (Fig.
6.13) (Lee

et al

., 2002). Long-range ordering was accomplished by making
use of the intrinsic property of M13 to form liquid crystalline structures
(discussed in Chapter 7).

et al

6.4.1 M13-Based Lithium Ion Batery Electrodes

Lithium ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that contain a lithium anode
(negative electrode) and a carbon cathode (positive electrode). When in use,
lithium ions flow from the lithium anode through polyelectrolyte toward the
carbon cathode. This process is referred to as ,

the current is reversed with an external power source; lithium ions diffuse
back toward the lithium electrode. Once the original status is restored, the
battery is recharged. Energy is stored and released by diffusion of lithium
ions between the electrodes.

discharge . During charging