Fabrication of multishaped magnetic structures via a knowledge-based biomimetic approach supported by atomistic modeling - Phase 3

目前的提议旨在建立一种新的仿生策略，以一种比传统沉积方法更便宜、更环保的方式，控制制造具有定制磁性的二维氧化膜。根据SPP呼吁的目标，将采用一种生物化学和遗传特征良好的生物矿化模板，即铁蛋白。与之前使用整个蛋白质笼来制造组装纳米颗粒薄膜的方法不同，我们设想将单个铁蛋白亚基固定在稳定的氧化铝表面作为致密的单层。这将允许制造连续无机薄膜和具有功能梯度特性的多层分层组装。在对形成机制、材料结构及其磁性进行全面表征的同时，将通过多尺度的原子模型进行深入的理论研究。通过这种方式，我们将首先全面了解成矿条件、所产生的矿物相结构和组成及其物理性质之间的关键关系。这将使我们随后能够按照基于知识的制造协议设计和生产功能性磁性结构，而不是传统的试错循环。利用有机/无机界面的相互作用来促进和控制矿物的生长，正如先进的原子模拟所阐明的那样，并通过多种实验方法实现，结合两位申请人研究小组已经建立的相互专长。

The present proposal aims to establish a novel biomimetic strategy for the controlled fabrication of two-dimensional oxide films with tailored magnetic properties, in a cheaper and environmentally friendlier way than traditional deposition methods. In line with the objectives of the SPP call, a biochemically and genetically well-characterized biomineralizing template will be employed, namely ferritin. Differently from the few previously followed approaches pursuing the fabrication of assembled nanoparticle films using whole protein cages, we envisage to make use of individual ferritin subunits immobilized on a stable alumina surface as a dense monolayer. This will allow the fabrication of continuous inorganic films and the hierarchical assembling of multi-layers with functionally graded properties. A thorough characterization of the formation mechanisms, of the materials structures and of their magnetic properties will be performed in parallel to an in-depth theoretical investigation by means of atomistic modelling at multiple scales. In this way, we will first develop a comprehensive understanding of the key relationships between the mineralization conditions, the resulting mineral phase structure and composition, and its physical properties. This will allow us subsequently to design and produce functional magnetic structures following a knowledge-based fabrication protocol, rather than a traditional trial-and-error loop. The mineral growth shall be promoted and controlled by taking advantage of the interactions at organic/inorganic interfaces, as elucidated in advanced atomistic simulations and realized by means of a variety of experimental methods, combining the wellestablished mutual expertises of the two applicants’ research groups.