Platinum and palladium nanotubes based on genetically engineered elastin-mimetic fusion protein-fiber templates : synthesis and application in lithium-O2 batteries

• Main Authors: Guo, Guilue, Truong, Thi Hong Anh, Tan, Huiteng, Ang, Huixiang, Zhang, Wenyu, Xu, Chen, Rui, Xianghong, Hu, Zhaolong, Fong, Eileen, Yan, Qingyu
• Other Authors: School of Materials Science & Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Chemistry
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/105302; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/20683
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The coupling of proteins with self-assembly properties and proteins that are capable of recognizing and mineralizing specific inorganic species is a promising strategy for the synthesis of nanoscale materials with controllable morphology and functionality. Herein, GPG-AG3 protein fibers with both of these properties were constructed and served as templates for the synthesis of Pt and Pd nanotubes. The protein fibers of assembled GPG-AG3 were more than 10 μm long and had diameters of 20–50 nm. The as-synthesized Pt and Pd nanotubes were composed of dense layers of ∼3–5 nm Pt and Pd nanoparticles. When tested as cathodes in lithium-O2 batteries, the porous Pt nanotubes showed low charge potentials of 3.8 V, with round-trip efficiencies of about 65 % at a current density of 100 mA g−1.