A simple solution to the problem of self-assembling cubic diamond crystals

Abstract

The self-assembly of colloidal diamond (CD) crystals is considered as one of the most coveted goals of nanotechnology, both from the technological and fundamental points of view. For applications, colloidal diamond is a photonic crystal which can open new possibilities of manipulating light for information processing. From a fundamental point of view, its unique symmetry exacerbates a series of problems that are commonly faced during the self-assembly of target structures, such as the presence of kinetic traps and the formation of crystalline defects and alternative structures (polymorphs). Here we demonstrate that all these problems can be systematically addressed via SAT-assembly, a design framework that converts self-assembly into a satisfiability problem. Contrary to previous solutions (requiring four or more components), we prove that the assembly of the CD crystal only requires a binary mixture. Moreover, we use molecular dynamics simulations of a system composed by nearly a million nucleotides to test a DNA nanotechnology design that constitutes a promising candidate for experimental realization.

Guiding the self-assembly of colloidal diamond

“…13 Other recent approaches based on patchy particles rely on inverse designing the single units depending on the target structure that has to be assembled. [17][18][19][20][21] In order to introduce selectivity in the interactions and to exclude the formation of undesired patterns, a variable number of patches per particle are assigned a certain 'color' and species of different relative concentrations can be admitted to the self-assembly procedure. This type of approach based on the use of patchy particles could find experimental realization in the use of single-stranded DNA, 22,23 which allows for high selectivity through a clever diversification of the nucleotide sequences.…”

Guiding the self-assembly of colloidal diamond

“…13 Other recent approaches based on patchy particles rely on inverse designing the single units depending on the target structure that has to be assembled. [17][18][19][20][21] In order to introduce selectivity in the interactions and to exclude the formation of undesired patterns, a variable number of patches per particle is assigned a certain 'color' and species of different relative concentrations can be admitted to the self-assembly procedure. This type of approach based on the use of patchy particles, could find experimental realization in the use of single-stranded DNA, 22,23 which allows for high selectivity through a clever diversification of the nucleotide sequences.…”