Protein-Based Control of Silver Growth Habit Using Electrochemical Deposition

Here, we exploit the ability of electrodeposition to decouple materials nucleation and growth to investigate how engineered biomineralizing proteins control inorganic morphogenesis. Using a silver-binding designer protein at concentrations proximal to its equilibrium dissociation constant, we produce rosettelike silver particles instead of the pentagonal twinned crystals obtained without additive or with a wild-type protein that nonspecifically adsorbs to silver. We correlate the difference in silver growth habit to specific interactions between the designer protein and the {111} faces of polycrystalline silver nuclei. Our results suggest that electrodeposition is a powerful tool to interrogate protein -inorganic interactions and to screen solid-binding proteins for shape-changing activity.