ABSTRACT
Biomolecular electronics is an emerging technology with the potential to impact a variety of areas, including medicine, personalized health care, wearable devices, public safety, food security, and telecommunications. Photoresponsive proteins are one class of biomaterials that have been extensively explored by scientists and engineers for developing enhanced sensors and photo-electronic devices. The chapter introduces the principles of bioelectronic devices based on light-responsive bacteriorhodopsin (bR), the trans-membrane pump found in the purple membrane of Halobacterium salinarum. The bR membranes are biological photoelectric nano-sheets that can retain their functionalities when integrated with inorganic structures. The optical and photoelectric properties of bR have inspired researchers to create innovative bioelectric photo-cells and light-powered proton pumps. The molecular behavior of bR and thin film fabrication techniques (e.g., molecular self-assembly) are described in this chapter. Several applications, including optical sensing, photoelectric signal processing, chemical sensors, biological switches, and light-driven microactuation, are presented.
