(167f) Biotemplates Removal from Palladium (Pd) Coated Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus (BSMV) Virus-like-Particles (VLPs) Via Thermal Annealing for Pd Nanorod (PdNR) Production

1-Dimensional (1D) metal nanostructures such as nanowires and nanorods are increasingly important in a wide array of applications ranging from electronics and catalysis to energy storage. Sustainable green methods of nanostructure synthesis are gaining more attention due to the negative environmental impact of the conventional methods. Application of the rod shaped viral biotemplates such as Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus (BSMV) Virus-Like-Particles (VLPs) is one such promising green method for the metal nanorods synthesis such as Pd nanorods (PdNRs). In this study, BSMV VLPs will be incubated in a solution of Pd precursor such as Na₂PdCl₄ to coat the VLPs with Pd nanostructures. Pd coated BSMV VLPs will have an uneven surface on the biotemplate; thereby, limiting electrical properties such as conductivity. The organic core of the Pd coated VLPs also disrupts charge transport; therefore, reducing the electrical conductivity. Thermal annealing is a promising approach to address the aforementioned problems. Thermal annealing at temperatures below the bulk melting point can thermally decompose the organic core to amorphous carbon while increasing atomic mobility to reduce the number of grain boundaries. In this study, the critical annealing temperature (CT) of the Pd coated BSMV VLPs will be determined by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Ramped heating experiments will determine the minimum annealing temperature (AT) and annealing time (t) required for producing smooth single crystalline PdNRs. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) will allow the monitoring of the surface smoothness and the formation of a continuous crystal network structure during the annealing process.