Insights into the Biomimetic Synthesis of 2D ZnO Nanomaterials through Peptoid Engineering

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Achieving predictable biomimetic crystallization using sequence-defined synthetic molecules in mild conditions represents a long-standing challenge in materials synthesis. Herein we report a peptoid-based approach for biomimetic control over the formation of nanostructured ZnO materials in ambient aqueous conditions. A series of two-dimensional (2D) ZnO nanomaterials have been successfully obtained using amphiphilic peptoids with different numbers, ratios, and patterns of various hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains. By investigating the relationship between peptoid hydrophobicity and the thickness of the resultant ZnO nanomaterials, we found the critical role of peptoid hydrophobicity in the peptoid-controlled ZnO formation. Our results suggest that tuning the hydrophobicity of peptoids can be used to moderate peptoid-ZnO surface interactions, thus controlling the formation of ultrathin (<2.5 nm) 2D ZnO nanomaterials. The peptoid-controlled formation of ZnO nanomaterials was further investigated using ultrasmall-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS). Our work suggests a new approach to synthesizing 2D metal oxide nanomaterials using sequence-defined synthetic molecules.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01882

Authors: Wenchao Yang, Bin Cai, Kacper J. Lachowski, Qiuxiang Yin, James J. De Yoreo, Lilo D. Pozzo, Chun-Long Chen

Institutions: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Tianjin University, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, University of Washington, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin

Language: English

Topic: ZnO doping and properties

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, Battelle, China Scholarship Council, Office of Science, Clean Energy Institute, Basic Energy Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy Frontier Research Centers

OpenAlex ID: W4387949722