Three-dimensional nanoscale metal, metal oxide, and semiconductor frameworks through DNA-programmable assembly and templating

Abstract

Controlling the three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitecture of inorganic materials is imperative for enabling their novel mechanical, optical, and electronic properties. Here, by exploiting DNA-programmable assembly, we establish a general approach for realizing designed 3D ordered inorganic frameworks. Through inorganic templating of DNA frameworks by liquid- and vapor-phase infiltrations, we demonstrate successful nanofabrication of diverse classes of inorganic frameworks from metal, metal oxide and semiconductor materials, as well as their combinations, including zinc, aluminum, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, indium, tin, and platinum, and composites such as aluminum-doped zinc oxide, indium tin oxide, and platinum/aluminum-doped zinc oxide. The open 3D frameworks have features on the order of nanometers with architecture prescribed by the DNA frames and self-assembled lattice. Structural and spectroscopic studies reveal the composition and organization of diverse inorganic frameworks, as well as the optoelectronic properties of selected materials. The work paves the road toward establishing a 3D nanoscale lithography.

DNA-Assembled SERS-Active Multimeric Nanoparticle Structures

“…Passivation of SERS substrates with inorganic materials may be pursued to alleviate this issue. 157,158 The second challenge is the large-scale synthesis and purification of the SERS active structures. As discussed in the preceding sections, the SERS activity drastically varies when the Raman reporter is present in the hot spot.…”

“…Further, DNA nanostructures are prone to nuclease digestion. , This poses a significant threat to long-term storage and application of DNA-based SERS platforms. Passivation of SERS substrates with inorganic materials may be pursued to alleviate this issue. , The second challenge is the large-scale synthesis and purification of the SERS active structures. As discussed in the preceding sections, the SERS activity drastically varies when the Raman reporter is present in the hot spot.…”

Dual-Interface-Mediated Tunable Self-Assembly of 2D Periodic Nanostructures and DNA-Driven Reconstructions

“…At present, most strategies leverage weak intermolecular interactions between NPs without long-range selectivity, thus limiting the ability to access the long-range periodic structures of NPs. − Alternatively, combinations of top-down and bottom-up techniques have been reported to introduce NP-template interfacial interactions, which can confine the growth or assembly of nanostructures on a template surface. For instance, various functional templates have been obtained through techniques including electron beam etching, colloidal lithography, and nanoimprinting, etc. − Chemical or physical modification of the patterned templates allows for the deterministic self-assembly of NPs, yielding two-dimensional (2D) periodic arrays of NPs over large areas. Nevertheless, flexible control of the various complex interfacial interactions in these approaches, which is pivotal to the regioselective self-assembly of NPs on a surface, is still difficult.…”