Virus/nanowire encapsulation within polymer microgels for 2D and 3D devices for energy and electronics
Methods and apparatuses for encapsulating inorganic micro- or nanostructures within polymeric microgels are described. In various embodiments, viruses are encapsulated with microgels during microgel formation. The viruses can provide a template for in situ synthesis of the inorganic structures within the microgel. The inorganic structures can be distributed substantially homogeneously throughout the microgel, or can be distributed non-uniformly within the microgel. The inventive microgel compositions can be used for a variety of applications including electronic devices, biotechnological devices, fuel cells, display devices and optical devices.
1. A two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure comprising a plurality of bacteriophages and a plurality of bacteriophage-templated inorganic nanowires within a microgel encapsulation.
2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the structure is a microstructure.
3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the structure is a nanostructure.
4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the bacteriophage comprises M13 and/or E4.
5. The structure of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises conductive or semiconductive nanowires.
6. The structure of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises catalytic nanowires.
7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises cobalt oxide nanowires and/or titanium oxide nanowires.
8. The structure of claim 1 wherein the multiple structures are asymmetrically or non-uniformly distributed within the microgel.
9. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the microgel is between about 10 microns and about 200 microns in diameter.
10. The structure of claim 1 wherein the microgel is between about 5 microns and about 10 microns in diameter.
11. The structure of claim 1 wherein the microgel is between about 2 microns and about 5 microns in diameter.
12. The structure of claim 1 wherein the microgel is between about 1 micron and about 2 microns in diameter.
13. The structure of claim 1 wherein the structure is formed within the microgel in a liquid incubation environment.
14. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the microgel encapsulation is disposed in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array.
15. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the microgel encapsulation is disposed in a fixed bed reactor.
16. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the microgel encapsulation is disposed in a fixed bed reactor providing for the production of hydrogen gas.