Abstract
Diatoms are single cell photosynthesizing eukaryotic algae that produce intricately structured cell wall made of nano-patterned silica. The biologically fabricated nanostructures offer substantially different properties related adhesion, tribology, optic and electronic behavior. In this study biosynthesis and characterization of Silicon-Germanium (Si-Ge) oxide nanocomposite in the diatom, Stauroneis sp., by two stage cultivation process. The exponential growth of Stauroneis sp., inoculated with enrichment medium amended with Germanium. The silicon to germanium concentration molar ratio was 1:0.5. Scanning electron microscopic studies reveals that no structural change is observed when germanium concentration is low, the increased concentration of germanium led to structural changes of the diatoms. The Si-Ge oxide nanocomposite was characterized by Electron Microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy to evaluate the chemical composition and structural properties of the diatoms.