Electrical devices employing molten compositions of biomolecules

Abstract

Compositions of biomolecules such as nucleic acids that form molten salts are provided. These compositions molten compositions that have useful electrical properties. Such compositions include a salt of (i) an organic polymer ion such as a polynucleic acid anion, and (ii) a polyether or polysiloxane couterion. Methods of making and using such compositions, along with electrical devices such as memory devices, are also provided.

1 . An electrical memory device, said memory device comprising: 
 (a) a first electrode; and    (b) a storage medium electrically coupled to said electrode, said storage medium comprising an ionic liquid melt, said ionic liquid melt comprising at least a first redox active compound.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  Claim 1 , further comprising a second electrode electrically coupled to said storage medium.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  Claim 1 , wherein said storage medium is contained within an enclosed chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  Claim 1 , wherein said storage medium is contained within a sealed chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  Claim 1 , wherein said ionic liquid melt is a salt of an organic polymer ion and a polyether or polysiloxane counterion, 
 said organic polymer ion selected from the group consisting of polypeptides, polynucleic acids, polystyrenes, and polysaccharides,    and wherein at least one of said organic polymer ion and said counterion is redox active.    
     
     
         6 . The device according to  Claim 1 , wherein said counterion comprises a polyether selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  Claim 1 , wherein said counterion comprises a polysiloxane.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  Claim 1 , said ionic liquid melt further comprising a second redox active compound that together with said first redox active compound form a redox active pair.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  Claim 8 , wherein said device is a refreshable memory device.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  Claim 1 , wherein said storage medium is not covalently bonded to said first electrode.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  Claim 10 , said ionic liquid melt having a glass transition temperature between −50° C. and 100° C.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  Claim 11 , wherein said ionic liquid melt is amorphous.  
     
     
         13 . An electrical device comprising: 
 (a) a first electrode;    (b) a second electrode; and    (b) a medium electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes, said medium comprising an ionic liquid melt, said ionic liquid melt comprising at least a first redox active compound.    
     
     
         14 . The device according to  Claim 13 , further comprising a third electrode electrically coupled to said medium.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  Claim 13 , wherein said medium is contained within an enclosed chamber.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  Claim 13 , wherein said medium is contained within a sealed chamber.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  Claim 13 , wherein said ionic liquid melt is a salt of an organic polymer ion and a polyether or polysiloxane counterion, 
 said organic polymer ion selected from the group consisting of polypeptides, polynucleic acids, polystyrenes, and polysaccharides,    and wherein at least one of said organic polymer ion and said counterion is redox active.    
     
     
         18 . The device according to  Claim 17 , wherein said counterion comprises a polyether selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  Claim 17 , wherein said counterion comprises a polysiloxane.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  Claim 13 , said ionic liquid melt further comprising a second redox active compound that together with said first redox active compound form a redox active pair.  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  Claim 20 , wherein said device is a refreshable memory device.  
     
     
         22 . The device according to  Claim 13 , wherein said medium is not covalently bonded to said first electrode.  
     
     
         23 . The device according to  Claim 13 , said ionic liquid melt having a glass transition temperature between −50° C. and 100° C.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  Claim 23 , wherein said ionic liquid melt is amorphous.  
     
     
         25 . A polymer composition comprising a salt of an organic polymer ion and a polyether or polysiloxane counterion; 
 said organic polymer ion selected from the group consisting of polypeptides, polynucleic acids, polystyrenes, glycoproteins, and polysaccharides;    wherein at least one of said organic polymer ion and said polyether counterion is redox active;    and wherein said composition is a melt.    
     
     
         26 . A method of depositing a material on a substrate, comprising the step of: 
 coating at least one surface portion of a substrate with a composition according to  Claim 25 .    
     
     
         27 . The method according to  Claim 26 , wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of metals, semiconductors, and polymeric materials.  
     
     
         28 . A structure, comprising: 
 (a) a substrate; and    (b) a coating on said substrate, said coating comprising a composition according to  Claim 25 .    
     
     
         29 . The structure according to  Claim 28 , wherein the substrate is an electrode.  
     
     
         30 . A method of forming a structure, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming a molten salt of a composition according to  Claim 25;  and    (b) applying said molten salt to a substrate to form a structure.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  Claim 30 , wherein said substrate is an electrode.  
     
     
         32 . A method of making a molten salt, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing an organic polymer ion selected from the group consisting of polypeptides, polynucleic acids, polystyrenes, and polysaccharides;    (b) providing a polyether counterion; and    (c) combining said nucleic acid with said polyether counterion to make a molten salt thereof in a molten phase.