Repeat protein scaffolds: Ordering photo- and electroactive molecules in solution and solid state

Abstract

The precise control over the organization of photoactive components at the nanoscale is one of the main challenges for the generation of new and sophisticated macroscopically ordered materials with enhanced properties. In this work we present a novel bioinspired approach using protein-based building blocks for the arrangement of photo- and electroactive porphyrin derivatives. We used a designed repeat protein scaffold with demonstrated unique features that allow for the control of their structure, functionality, and assembly. Our designed domains act as exact biomolecular templates to organize porphyrin molecules at the required distance. The hybrid conjugates retain the structure and assembly properties of the protein scaffold and display the spectroscopic features of orderly aggregated porphyrins along the protein structure. Finally, we achieved a solid ordered bio-organic hybrid thin film with anisotropic photoconductivity.