CHED 279 |
| Aerogels have potential to improve power density in biofuel cells by serving as highly porous, large surface area electrode materials. To do so, the necessary catalyzing protein must be stable within the aerogel, and proteins typically need buffered environments for stability. However, recent research shows that cytochrome c (cyt. c) forms self-organized superstructures around colloidal gold in buffer (abbreviated as Au~cyt. c superstructures) that can be encapsulated within silica, and dried to form aerogels in which cyt. c retains its bioactivity. In prelude to exploring these composite bioaerogels for biofuel cell applications, our current project is to explore the fundamental electrochemical properties of the Au~cyt. c superstructures in buffered media, outside of the aerogel nanoarchitecture, in order to further our understanding of these stabilizing superstructures. We will present voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical results from studies of Au~cyt. c superstructures in buffered media. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session
2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |