Synthesis of Metallic Nanowires Using Integrated DNA Molecules as Templates

The DNA double helix is inherently a nanoscale wire-like object, possessing a 2 nm diameter as well as a remarkable capability for molecular recognition and the interaction with other chemical compounds, thus making it an attractive material for biologically driven assembly of artificial nanostructures. In this work methods for the construction of functional electronic networks from single DNA molecules are presented. For this, (i) the generation of patterns of distinct interconnects between micro-fabricated contact pads are explored by stretching end-specifically thiol-functionalized, single-tethered DNA molecules using hydrodynamic flow as well as an electric field-induced thermal flow. (ii) These networks then serve as a template for a selective in-situ photoinduced nucleation and growth of platinum clusters of 4 nm diameter along the DNA molecules. In the synthesis exclusively platinum ions from an aqueous platinum nitrate solution bonded electrostatically to the backbone of the immobilized DNA can be reduced upon irradiation with UV light, while background metallization is inhibited. Furthermore, the metallization scheme is applied to DNA nanotubes and another photochemical deposition process is used to tune the interparticle gap space in a discontinuous platinum cluster chain to form conducting nanowires. The "process toolbox'' presented in this work offers a versatile alternative for the hierarchical patterning and incorporation of biotemplated nanomaterials into micro-/nanofabrication schemes.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Technische Universität Dresden

Year

2010

Author dc:creator

• Erler, Christiane

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mertig, Michael
• Gerlach, Gerald
• Pompe, Wolfgang

• nanowire
• DNA
• bottom-up synthesis
• Nanodrähte
• Bottom-up-Synthese