Thermal and aqueous stability improvement of graphene oxide enhanced diphenylalanine nanocomposites

Abstract

Nanocomposites of diphenylalanine (FF) and carbon based materials provide an opportunity to overcome drawbacks associated with using FF micro- and nanostructures in nanobiotechnology applications, in particular, their poor structural stability in liquid solutions. In this study, FF/graphene oxide (GO) composites were found to self-assemble into layered micro- and nanostructures, which exhibited improved thermal and aqueous stability. Dependent on the FF/GO ratio, the solubility of these structures was reduced to 35.65% after 30 min as compared to 92.4% for pure FF samples. Such functional nanocomposites may extend the use of FF structures to, e.g., biosensing, electrochemical, electromechanical or electronic applications.European Commission - European Regional Development FundEuropean Commission - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)Science Foundation IrelandProgramme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) Cycle 5Russian Foundation for Fundamental ResearchCICECO-Aveiro Institute of MaterialsFCT/MECPT2020 Partnership Agreemen