In Situ Formation of Dendrites in Eumelanin Thin Films between Gold Electrodes

Advanced Functional Materials Volume: 23 Issue: 45 Pages: 5591-5598 Published: 2013

AFM images of eumelanin thin films between Au electrodes ( L = 6 μ m) a) before electrical biasing and b–d) after biasing at 1 V for increasing times. Numbers in (c) mark the distinct features of the growth of the nanostructures: Decomposition of the positively biased Au electrode, NAs moving towards the negatively biased electrode, and dendrite growth. e) AFM height and phase image of dendrite structures. f) Height profi le for the sections in (a) (green) and (c) (red).

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Writers: Julia Wünsche; Luis Cardenas; Federico Rosei; Fabio Cicoira; Reynald Gauvin; Carlos F. O. Graeff; Suzie Poulin; Alessandro Pezzella; Clara Santato

Keywords: metal chelation; eumelanin thin films; gold nanostructures; resistive change; bioelectronics

Abstract: Eumelanin is a ubiquitous pigment in the human body, animals, and plants, with potential for bioelectronic applications because of its unique set of physical and chemical properties, including strong UV-vis absorption, mixed ionic/electronic conduction, free radical scavenging and anti-oxidant properties. Herein, a detailed investigation is reported of eumelanin thin films grown on substrates patterned with gold electrodes as a model system for device integration, using electrical measurements, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Under prolonged electrical biasing in humid air, one can observe gold dissolution and formation of gold-eumelanin nanoaggregates, the assembly of which leads to the formation of dendrites forming conductive pathways between the electrodes. Based on results collected with eumelanins from different sources, a mechanism is proposed for the formation of the nanoaggregates and dendrites, taking into account the metal binding properties of eumelanin. The surprising interaction between eumelanin and gold points to new opportunities for the fabrication of eumelanin-gold nanostructures and biocompatible memory devices and should be taken into account in the design of devices based on eumelanin thin films.

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O CDMF é um dos Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão (CEPID) apoiados pela FAPESP. O Centro também recebe investimento do CNPq, a partir do Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Materiais em Nanotecnologia (INCTMN).