Biologically Activated Noble Metal Alloys at the Nanoscale: For Lithium Ion Battery Anodes

• DOI: 10.1021/nl1005993
• Publication Date: 2010-05-27T18:02:06Z
• Authors: Yun Jung Lee; Youjin Lee; Dahyun Oh; Tiffany Chen; Gerbrand Ceder; Angela M. Belcher
• Keywords: Noble metal

We report the synthesis and electrochemical activity of gold silver noble metals their alloy nanowires using multiple virus clones as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Using two clones, one specificity (p8#9 virus) versatility (E4 virus), metal high-aspect ratio with diameters below 50 nm were successfully synthesized control over particle sizes, morphologies, compositions. The biologically derived showed activities toward even when electrodes prepared from bulk powder forms. improvement in capacity retention was accomplished by formation surface stabilization. Although cost renders them a less ideal choice batteries, these metal/alloy serve great model systems to study electrochemically induced transformation at nanoscale. Given demonstration various compositions, M13 biological toolkit extended its utility on basic property materials.