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