The photochemistry of a plasmonic biomaterial that consisted of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) on the exterior of the iron sequestration protein, ferritin (Ftn), was investigated. The light driven photochemistry of the hybrid system was investigated mechanistically and for the reduction of chromate, Cr(VI) as CrO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>. In the absence of aqueous Cr(VI), the Fe(III) oxyhydroxide semiconducting core of Ftn underwent, in part, photoreactions to release Fe(II) when exposed to light with wavelengths,λ, &lt; 475 nm. AuNP grown on the exterior of the Ftn produced plasmonic heterostructures (Au/Ftn) that allowed similar photochemistry to occur at longer wavelengths of light (i.e., λ &gt; 475 nm). We also showed that Au/Ftn facilitated the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the presence of visible light (λ &gt; 475 nm), while similar chemistry was not observed for Ftn (in the absence of Au) in the same spectral region. Overall, the presence of AuNP on the exterior of Ftn extended the photochemistry of Ftn for Fe(II) release and Cr(VI) reduction to longer wavelengths of light relative to Au-free Ftn. Results from spectroscopic techniques will be presented that help understand the mechanism by which AuNP affect the photochemistry of Au/Ftn.

Reactivity of a heterostructured plasmonic biomaterial: Gold nanoparticles on ferritin

256th National Meeting (2018)

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