Efficient photocurrent generation by self-assembled monolayers composed of 3 10-helical peptides carrying linearly spaced naphthyl groups at the side chains.

Abstract

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were prepared on a gold substrate from a 310-helical peptide carrying three naphthyl groups at the side chain (SSN3B) or from the reference peptides carrying no or one naphthyl group. The 310-helical conformation of SSN3B in solution was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and geometry optimization. Cyclic voltammetry and infrared absorption-reflection spectroscopy showed vertical molecular orientation and a well-packed structure in the SSN3B SAM. Anodic photocurrent was successfully generated by the SSN3B SAM in the presence of triethanolamine, and the current intensity was found to be much larger than those by the other SAMs from peptides carrying one naphthyl group. It was therefore concluded that the linearly spaced naphthyl groups along the helical axis act as photosensitizer and electron-hopping site to promote photocurrent generation remarkably.

• Authors: Kazuyuki Yanagisawa, Tomoyuki Morita, Shunsaku Kimura
• Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society (J Am Chem Soc) Vol. 126 Issue 40 Pg. 12780-1 (Oct 13 2004) ISSN: 0002-7863 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15469265 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Aminoisobutyric Acids
• Naphthalenes
• Oligopeptides
• 2-aminoisobutyric acid
• Gold

Topics

• Aminoisobutyric Acids (chemistry)
• Gold (chemistry)
• Naphthalenes (chemical synthesis, chemistry)
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
• Oligopeptides (chemical synthesis, chemistry)
• Photochemistry
• Protein Structure, Secondary
• Thermodynamics