A new nanostructure has been created by researchers for conducting electricity using DNA and gold plating. The new nanostructure has the potential to be used for future electronics after improvements. These DNA origami nanostructures are fascinating. Using DNA as construction material capable of holding scar folds of molecules and atoms has been a huge step for modern nanostructures.
Scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and Paderborn University recently developed gold-platted nanowires. As published in the journal Langmuir, the gold plated nanowires independently assemble themselves from single DNA strings.
Artur Erbe from the institute of Icon Beam Physics and Material Research explained that nanowires are able to conduct electricity because of their gold-platting. Two electrical contacts connected the Nano-sized structures. What is even more intriguing is the use of modified DNA strings. These were used as stable double strands combined through their base pairs. Thus, they allowed structures to independently take any desired form. Therefore, complex structures were developed.
According to Erbe, using this approach (which resembles Japanese paper folding technic origami hence the name DNA-origami) will allow the creation of tiny patterns. The ‘top down’ method i.e. developing Nano sockets using base material that is chiseled until desired structure is formed. The new ‘bottom up’ method is set to change the usual method of making these electric components.
However, there is a stumbling block. Erbe pointed out that “Genetic matter doesn’t conduct a current particularly well.” Furthermore, conductive materials need better melding. Not to mention the use of cheaper standard wire coating and not gold. Overall, this is a promising research. If successful, this Nanowire technology could become the future of electronics.
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