UK scientists from Norwich have used a plant virus to create nanotechnology building blocks.

The virus, which infects black-eyed peas, was employed as a "scaffold" on to which other chemicals were attached.

By linking iron-containing compounds to the virus's surface, the John Innes Centre team was able to create electronically active nanoparticles.

The researchers tell the journal Small that their work could be used in the future to make tiny electrical devices.

... After isolating a virus particle from the peas, the researchers then bound ferrocene compounds to amino acids on its surface.

The team managed to attach approximately 240 of the organometallic compounds, each containing an electronically active iron atom.

The addition of these compounds meant the nanoparticle became like a molecular capacitor - a device that could store electronic charge, explained Dr Evans.

After further development, this could lead to the particles being used in biosensors, nanoelectronic devices, or for electrocatalytic processes. ...

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