In vivo shaping of inorganic functional devices using microalgae

Abstract

The usage of biomineralization processes performed by living microalgae to create 3D nanostructured materials are advantageous compared to conventional synthesis routes. Exploitation of in vivo shaping using living cells leads to inorganic intricate biominerals, produced with low environmental impact. Since biomineralization processes are genetically controlled, the formation of nanostructured materials is highly reproducible. The shells of microalgae, like coccoliths, are particularly of great interest. This study shows the generation of mesoporous highly structured functional materials with induced optoelectronical properties using in vivo processes of the microalga species Emiliania huxleyi. It demonstrates the metabolically driven incorporation of the lanthanide terbium into the coccoliths of E. huxleyi as a route for the synthesis of finely patterned photoluminescent particles by feeding the microalgae with this luminescent element. The resulting green luminescent particles have hierarchical ordered pores on the nano‐ and microscale and may act as powerful tools for many applications; they may serve as imaging probes for biomedical applications, or in microoptics. The luminescent coccoliths combine a unique hierarchical structure with a characteristic luminescence pattern, which make them superior to conventional produced Tb doted material. With this study, the possibility of the further exploitation of coccoliths as advanced functional materials for nanotechnological applications is given.