Bioprotonic transistors using eumelanin thin films

Abstract

Bioelectronics is an area with remarkable scientific and technological interest due to its vision to relate electronic and biological systems. Currently, one of the phenomena being studied is proton transport in natural materials. Devices based on hybrid protonic and electronic transport are also explored. In these devices, the hybrid behaviour of the transport as a function of the relative humidity may be observed using a number of organic materials, e.g. melanin. Melanin exhibits hybrid conductivity under different relative humidity conditions. Due to its special physicochemical properties and biocompatibility, melanin is an attractive candidate to assemble devices based on hybrid transport. Thus, the present project consists in exploring the protonic conduction of eumelanin thin films obtained from the main synthetic routes to develop bioprotonic transistors. Special attention will be given to electrical characterization of eumelanin thin films under different relative humidity conditions and to the electrochemical characterization of the material. After determining the best protonic conduction conditions, the devices will be assembled and characterized. (AU)