USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

The Penn State Research Foundation

Melik Demirel

Walter J Dressick

Alok Singh

Benjamin Allen

Huihun Jung

Abdon Pena-Francesch

Mauricio Terrones

David Allara

Yu Lei

Akhlesh Lakhtakia

Mert Vural

Ibrahim Tarik Ozbolat

Provided are compositions that include at least one two-dimensional layer of an inorganic compound and at least one layer of an organic compound in the form of one or more polypeptides. Methods of making and using the materials are provided. The organic layer contains one or more polypeptides, each of which have alternating repeats of crystallite-forming subsequences and amorphous subsequences. The crystallite-forming subsequences form crystallites comprising stacks of one or more beta-sheets. The amorphous subsequences form a network of hydrogen bonds. A method includes i) combining one or more polypeptides with an inorganic material and an organic solvent, and ii) depositing one or more polypeptides, the inorganic material and the organic solvent onto a substrate. These steps can be repeated to provide a composite material that is a multilayer composite material. The composite materials can be used in a wide array of textile, electronic, semi-conducting, and other applications.

Compositions and methods related to 2 dimensional molecular composites

Provided are compositions and methods for making a variety of products. The methods involve mixing sucker ring teeth (SRT) protein and a plasticizer or a solvent to obtain a mixture of the SRT protein and the plasticizer. When the SRT is mixed with a plasticizer it is heated to between 32&#xb0; C. and 195&#xb0; C. to obtain an SRT protein melt. The melt is used to form a wide variety of products. When the SRT is mixed with a solvent, such as an organic solvent or an aqueous solvent, a solution of the SRT protein is formed, and is subsequently used to forming a product from the solution, wherein the product contains SRT protein.

Compositions and methods related to proteins capable of reversible transition to a melt

Provided is a supramolecular polypeptide comprising alternating repeats of crystallite-forming subsequences and amorphous subsequences. The crystallite-forming subsequences form crystallites comprising stacks of one or more &#x3b2;-sheets and the amorphous subsequences form a network of hydrogen bonds. The supramolecular polypeptides are capable of exhibiting self-healing behavior.

De novo structural protein design for manufacturing high strength materials

Provided herein are the polymers shown below. The value n is a positive integer. Ris an organic group, and each Ris H or a chemisorbed group, with at least one Rbeing a chemisorbed group. The polymer may be a nanostructured film. Also provided herein is a method of: converting a di-p-xylylene paracyclophane dimer to a reactive vapor of monomers; depositing the reactive vapor onto a substrate held at an angle relative to the vapor flux to form nanostructured poly(p-xylylene) film; reacting the film with an agent to form hydrogen atoms that are reactive with a precursor of a chemisorbed group, if the film does not contain the hydrogen atoms; and reacting the hydrogen atoms with the precursor. Also provided herein is a device having a nanostructured poly(p-xylylene) film on a pivotable substrate. The film has directional hydrophobic or oleophobic properties and directional adhesive properties. 

Hydrophobic nanostructured thin films

Disclosed herein is a structure having a spatially organized polymer nanostructured thin film and a metal coating on the film. The thin film is made by directing a monomer vapor or pyrolyzed monomer vapor towards a substrate at an angle other than perpendicular to the substrate, and polymerizing the monomer or pyrolyzed monomer on the substrate.

Surface enhanced raman detection on metalized nanostructured polymer films

A method of forming a sculptured thin film on a surface includes rotating the surface and depositing a sculptured thin film comprised of a polymer on the surface to form submicron or nanoscale wires during the step of rotating. The submicron wires may be columnar, helically columnar, chevron shaped, chiral shaped, distinct or interwoven. The depositing step may involve pyrolizing the polymer into a vapor of monomers, directing the vapor of monomers towards the surface while rotating the surface, and polymerizing the monomers on the surface. The surface may be incorporated into biomedical device or other biological application where the sculptured thin film is biocompatible and bioactive and adapted for a biological use.

Method and systems for forming and using nanoengineered sculptured thin films

A spatially organized polymer nanostructured thin film and a ligand adsorbate attached to the polymer nanostructured thin film and, optionally, an additional material or materials attached to the ligand adsorbate. A method for forming a structure by: providing a spatially organized polymer nanostructured thin film and a ligand adsorbate, and adsorbing the ligand adsorbate onto the thin film and, optionally, binding additional material or materials to the ligand adsorbate.

Growing community of inventors

State College, PA, United States of America

Melik Demirel