Debra K Gale

US Patent:

20070128707, Jun 7, 2007

Filed:

Nov 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/595479

Inventors:

Gregory Rorrer - Corvallis OR, US
Chih-Hung Chang - Corvallis OR, US
Clayton Jeffryes - Corvallis OR, US
Tian Qin - Corvallis OR, US
Debra Gale - Corvallis OR, US

International Classification:

C12P 3/00
G02F 1/03

US Classification:

435168000, 359245000

Abstract:

Embodiments of a method for making metal oxides or mixed metal oxides are disclosed. One representative embodiment comprises selecting a substrate for making the metal oxide or mixed metal oxide, contacting a biological system with the substrate material for an effective period of time, and optionally isolating the metal oxide or mixed metal oxide from the biological system. The biological system can be a living organism, or proteins derived from the living organism. Working embodiments used microalgae, specifically diatoms of the class Bacillariophycae, including marine Pennate diatoms, such as and/or diatoms, and Centric diatoms, such as species. The method also can involve post processing a primary or secondary material produced biologically. The metal oxides can be used for a variety of applications, including optoelectronic devices, such as memory devices, data storage devices, detectors, sensors, lasers, emitters, light-emitting diodes, optical computing architectures, photonics, imaging, photovoltaics, and administering therapeutic.