The dielectric response of hydrated water as a structural signature of nanoconfined lichen melanins
Yael Beilinson, Anna E. Rassabina, I. V. Lunev, Dzhigangir A. Faizullin, Anna Greenbaum, Vadim V. Salnikov, Yuriy F. Zuev, F. V. Minibayeva, Yuri Feldman
Abstract
. To investigate the inner melanin structure and water-melanin interactions, FTIR and BDS techniques are applied. The BDS technique was used in a wide temperature region of 123-293 K for melanins with various hydration levels. The relaxation processes related to the confinement of supercooled water - in melanins are observed and discussed in details. At medium and high hydration levels, the relaxation process in two melanins of different chemical compositions and supramolecular structures exhibits a well-known crossover that was already observed in many types of confinements. The analysis of FTIR and BDS results helps to clarify the lichen-water interaction processes.