Methods for the development of a DNA based nanoelectronics

The exceptional self-assembly properties of DNA as well as its ability to interact with different kinds of chemical compounds and biological structures make this biomolecule to an interesting object for the fabrication of artificial nanostructures. In this work several methods for a DNA-based self-assembly of electronic nanocircuitry are explored. For this, four basic steps, which turned out to be essential within a circuit assembly process, are addressed: (i) The formation of multi-branched DNA junctions by a simple building-block procedure. (ii) The site-specific attachment of nanoobjects (gold colloids) at the center of DNA junctions. (iii) The integration of DNA into microstructured gold electrode arrays, in particular the stretching of single DNA molecules between two electrodes. For this a simple, but reliable methods for the functionalization of gold electrodes by using aminoethanethiol was developed, which enables end-specific attachment of the DNA but does not require DNA modification. (iv) The metallization of DNA. A synthesis procedure was developed, which results in the formation of continuous chains of 5nm platinum clusters along the DNA. The metal deposition process turned out to take place exclusively at the DNA while background metallization is completely suppressed.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Technische Universität Dresden

Year

2004

Author dc:creator

• Seidel, Ralf

Contributors dc:contributor

• Pompe, Wolfgang
• Kiedrowski, Günter von
• Howard, Jonathon

• DNA
• Metallisierung
• Nanoelektronik
• Selbstassemblierung
• metallisation
• nanoelectronics
• self-assembly