Using the surface spontaneous depolarization field of ferroelectrics to direct the assembly of virus particles.

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) particles have been assembled at predetermined locations on the surface of a ferroelectric thin film with the composition PbZr0.3Ti0.7O3. The domain structure, hence the surface depolarization field for the ferroelectric associated with the bending of the ferroelectric band structure, was modified at length scales of around 2 µm. A suspension of TMV particles was deposited onto the surface of the ferroelectric over the region where domain modification had been performed. SPM images (intermittent contact) revealed that the virus particles were attracted to regions of the surface that had either been positively modified or were nominally neutral. Regions of modified negative surface charge effectively repelled the virus particles.