Biomolecular/solid-state nanoheterostructures

We demonstrate a fabrication process for making composite biological/solid-state heterostructures of nanometer dimension (nanoheterostructures). In this process individual protein molecules selectively self-assemble onto a 1.2-nm-thick Ta/W oxide film which has been patterned into a screen-like lattice with holes of 22 nm periodicity by parallel nanometer molecular lithography. Self-assembly is accomplished by preferential electrostatic bonding of the protein molecules to selected sites on the solid-state lattice.