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Abstract
In recent years, immense interest has been paid to biomolecular architecture with the aim of protein assembly in two dimensions on solid substrates, and the construction of clay–protein ultrathin films (CPUFs). An overview is provided of recent research on hybrid ultrafilms or nanofilms of clay mineral layers and protein molecules. Two techniques, layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly and Langmuir–Blodgett (LB), are presented. The films are characterised by UV–visible spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The amount of proteins incorporated in the films is obtained from UV–visible spectra. Film formation in the LB trough is studied by following the surface pressure versus time curves and the surface pressure versus area isotherms. With AFM the individual clay mineral layers and aggregates of protein molecules are resolved.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Inter-University Attraction Pole programme of the Belgian Government (IAP). The authors acknowledge Long Term Structural Funding-Methusalem Funding of the Flemish Government.
