20.109(S16):Module 3

From Course Wiki
Revision as of 19:48, 9 April 2016 by Noreen Lyell (Talk | contribs)

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
20.109(S16): Laboratory Fundamentals of Biological Engineering

S16 TemplateImage.png

Home        People        Schedule Spring 2016        Assignments        Homework        Lab Basics        Wiki Basics       
Protein Engineering        System Engineering        Biomaterials Engineering              

Module 3

Lecturer: Angela Belcher
Instructors: Noreen Lyell, Leslie McClain and Maxine Jonas
TAs:

Overview

“Invention” is a wonderful word, derived from words meaning “scheme” and “a finding out.” Inventors draw on materials provided by the natural world, refining and combining them in insightful ways, to make something useful. In this experimental module we will invent materials by manipulating biological systems, namely the bacteriophage M13. We will use a slightly modified phage to build a battery cathode. The phage themselves do the building by acting as a template for biomineralization and the resulting material will be used as the cathodes in a coin-style lithium-ion battery. Last semester, the 20.109 team assessed how the amount of phage impacts the performance of a battery. Using the knowledge gathered by your former classmates, you will now add an additional variable in an attempt to further improve battery capacity. Specifically, you will add gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and asses the effect of this on enhancing the electronic conductivity of your battery.

This module has been developed thanks to the generous time and thoughtful efforts of several Belcher lab members, in particular Dr. Maryam Moradi, Dr. Jifa Qi, and George Sun.

Schematic diagram of lithium-ion battery constructed with phage mineralized cathode

Lab links: day by day

M3D1: Growth of phage materials
M3D2: Phage nanowires
M3D3: Cathode construction
M3D4: TEM
M3D5: Battery assembly and testing
M3D6: Research proposal presentations

TA notes, M3

References

  1. Check out this CNN videotape of Angie Belcher teaching President Obama about this work!
  2. Biologically activated noble metal alloys at the nanoscale: for lithium ion battery anodes
    NanoLetters 2010
    Yun Jung Lee, Youjin Lee, Dahyun Oh, Tiffany Chen, Gerbrand Ceder, and Angela M. Belcher
    PDF