Researchers have discovered that the bacteria Shewanella can produce semiconducting nanotubes that may be useful in the creation of a new generation of nanoelectronic devices. This is the first report of biologically-produced nanotubes.

The team, including Nosang V. Myung, associate professor of chemical and environmental engineering in the Bourns College of Engineering, and his postdoctoral researcher Bongyoung Yoo, found the bacterium Shewanella facilitates the formation of arsenic-sulfide nanotubes that have unique physical and chemical properties not produced by chemical agents.
The photoactive arsenic-sulfide nanotubes produced by the bacteria behave as metals with electrical and photoconductive properties. The researchers report that these properties may also provide novel functionality for the next generation of semiconductors in nano- and opto-electronic devices.

The study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More details from the UCR.

Photo: Shewanella bacteria (shown in blue) forming nanotubes. The nanotube filaments produced by biological means could point toward semiconductor manufacturing processes with a smaller energy and environmental footprint. Credit: Hor-Gil Hur, GIST