The Casimir free energy of peptide films on a silicon substrate: Impact of dielectric-to-metal transition in silicon and nanoparticles in peptide

Abstract

Using the Lifshitz theory of the van der Waals and Casimir forces, we calculate the Casimir free energy of thin peptide films deposited on silicon substrates. The Casimir free energy is found as a function of film thickness for different fractions of water in the film, in the presence of either nonmagnetic or magnetic nanoparticles, and under the impact of irradiation of a silicon substrate with laser pulses or dopants resulting in the dielectric-to-metal phase transition. It is shown that for a dielectric silicon there is the borderline value of the film thickness, such that the Casimir free energy is negative and contributes to the film stability for thicker films, but is positive and makes the film less stable for thinner ones. According to our results, the borderline value of peptide film thickness decreases with increasing volume fractions of water and in the film. This decrease is more pronounced for the magnetic nanoparticles and becomes stronger with increasing their radius. The borderline value of peptide film thickness is found as a function of the fraction of water in the film. If the silicon substrate is in metallic state, the Casimir free energy of peptide coating is always positive, which makes it less stable. Possible applications of the obtained results in organic electronics and biomedicine are discussed.

10 pages, 6 figures

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