Electrical Conduction In A Cephalopod Structural Protein
Structural protein can withstand acidic conditions and heat (up to 80°C)Genetic engineering methods can be applied to modify protein properties if requiredMaterial is soft and flexible, enabling it to mold to desired shapes or contoursProtein is intrinsically biocompatible Proton conductivity value of material is within range of those of man-made proton conductors
Electronics such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, sensors, and transistorsMedical implants/devices: conduction of electrical signals Biological systems: sensing or manipulation of protonic flows
A wide variety of modern day devices, ranging from batteries to transistors, rely on the transport of protons. Scientists and engineers have come up with many artificial, man-made materials, ranging from ceramic oxides to metal-organic frameworks, to continuously develop and enhance these devices. However, there remains an untapped potential as proton conductors derived from naturally occurring proteins have generally received little attention. The inventors have utilized Proton-Conducting Cephalopod Proteins (“PCCPs”), to fabricate a proton-conducting material. PCCP’s encompass native cephalopod proteins, such as reflectins, and also their variants. This technology is versatile because genetic engineering methods can be applied to modify the proteins, enabling electrical properties of the resulting material to be tuned to different specifications.
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State Of Development PCCP materials have been fabricated and characterized. Related Materials Tech ID/UC Case 29033/2014-267-0 Related Cases 2014-267-0
USA
