Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Vol.832, 55-58, 2019
Photomodulation of electrical conductivity of a PCBM-doped free-standing lipid bilayer in buffer solution
The self-assembled bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) is a basic component in cell membranes. BLMs have gigaohm-level electrical resistivities and work as barrier walls for cells. In this study, the electrical conductivities across free-standing, phenyl-C-61-butyricacid-methyl ester (PC60BM)-doped BLMs in a buffer solution are investigated to conform their applicability for electronic biodevices. An apparent increase in the current across the BLM due to exposure to Xe-lamp light with wavelengths ranging from 888 to 300 nm is observed, compared to non -doped BLMs. It is possible that the doped PCBM works as a carrier mediator for electrons and/or ions in the buffer solution. The possibility of making artificial electronic valves using the BLM is discussed in this paper.