Simulating selective binding of a biological template to a nanoscale architecture: a core concept of a clamp-based binding-pocket-favored N-terminal-domain assembly

The biological template and its mutants have vital significance in next generation remediation, electrochemical, photovoltaic, catalytic, sensing and digital memory devices. However, a microscopic model describing the biotemplating process is generally lacking on account of modelling complexity, which has prevented widespread commercial use of biotemplates. Here, we demonstrate M13-biotemplating kinetics in atomic resolution by leveraging large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The model reveals the assembly of gold nanoparticles on two experimentally-based M13 phage types using full M13-capsid structural models and with polarizable gold nanoparticles in explicit solvent. Both mechanistic and structural insights into the selective binding affinity of the M13 phage to gold nanoparticles are obtained based on a previously unconsidered clamp-based binding-pocket-favored N-terminal-domain assembly and also on surface-peptide flexibility. These results provide a deeper level of understanding of protein sequence-based affinity and open the route for genetically engineering a wide range of 3D electrodes for high-density low-cost device integration.

Large-scale synthesis of stable mesoporous black TiO2 nanosheets for efficient solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via an earth-abundant low-cost biotemplate

Stable mesoporous black anatase TiO₂ nanosheets (MBTNs) are synthesized via an earth-abundant low-cost biotemplate method combined with an ethanediamine encircling process, and exhibit excellent solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen generation.

Hierarchical photocatalysts

The design, fabrication, performance and applications of hierarchical semiconductor photocatalysts are thoroughly reviewed and apprised.

Bio-templated fabrication of hierarchically porous WO3 microspheres from lotus pollens for NO gas sensing at low temperatures

Lotus pollen was used as a template to prepare WO₃ microspheres. The porous structure of the microspheres is ideal for gas sensing. The microsphere-based sensor has high sensitivity (S = 46.2) to 100 ppm NO gas with fast response and recovery speed 62 s/223 s) at 200 °C.