Biofuel-driven Adaptable n-type Supramolecular Wires: Mimicking Conducting Microbial Nano Filaments

We report the biofuel-driven self-assembly of a benzimidazole–pyridine platinum (II) complex into supramolecular nanowires. Phosphate promotes Pt···Pt metallophilic stacking, whereas the pristine complex forms nanosheets dominated by π–π interactions. By varying phosphate denticity (adenosine/guanosine mono-, di-, and triphosphates), we tune the extent of Pt···Pt interactions and the resulting electrical conductance of the nanowires, measured on graphene using a custom EGaIn setup. Triphosphate-templated nanowires exhibit nearly four orders of magnitude higher conductance than non-templated nanosheets. Thermopower measurements reveal a negative Seebeck coefficient, indicating LUMO-mediated electron transport and rare n-type behavior in these supramolecular assemblies. Temperature-dependent measurements show a transition from tunneling (non-templated nanosheets) to thermally activated hopping (triphosphate templated nanowires). The system is recyclable, apyrase hydrolysis disrupts the nanowires, and re-addition of phosphate restores assembly, enabling reversible conductance switching over multiple cycles. This study demonstrates a fuel-responsive, adaptive supramolecular electronic material, highlighting how controlled Pt···Pt interactions can be exploited to program charge transport in soft, bioinspired electronic systems.