Enzymatic Synthesis and Surface Deposition of Tin Dioxide using Silicatein-α

Nanostructured tin dioxide was synthesized by making use of the catalytic activity of silicatein-α. TEM, HRTEM, and XRD revealed the formation of cassiterite SnO2. Surface bound silicatein retains its biocatalytic activity. This was demonstrated by immobilizing silicatein on glass surfaces using a histidine-tag chelating anchor. The subsequent deposition of SnO2 on glass was monitored by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This new aspect of silicatein activity toward the formation of metal oxides other than SiO2, TiO2, and BaTiO3 opens up new vistas in composite material synthesis.