The research objective of this project is to develop simple yet robust methods for massively producing well-positioned nanostructured materials composed of DNA or DNA-based nanocomposites, which possess unprecedented regularity, over a large area (i.e., large scale). Subsequent functionalization of highly ordered DNA can serve as multifunctional materials for a variety of potential applications in nanoelectronic devices. Three specific research goals will be pursued throughout this proposed project: (1) Produce highly ordered structures of DNA and DNA-based nanocomposites by controlling the flow of an evaporating liquid. (2) Develop a reliable and scalable strategy for integrating individual nanoscale building blocks (i.e., DNA) into functional two-dimensional devices with high density. By performing two consecutive evaporation-induced self-assemblies, it is possible to create highly ordered 2D DNA nanowire arrays. (3) Understand the formation mechanisms of ordered structures. The ability to predict the length scale of periodicity, height, and width and compare them with experimental observations is key to the understanding on the structure formation.
This research is transformative in that it seeks to mass produce high-density functional nanodevices and nanocircuits, built upon well-positioned, highly ordered DNA or DNA nanocomposites for use in nanoelectronics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology, thereby transitioning fundamental scientific discoveries into useful technologies. The research project will be integrated with nanoscience and nanoengineering education. The educational efforts include recruitment of female undergraduate students, recruitment of high school teachers and students with an emphasis on minority in summer to perform one week of research, and development of lesson plans on DNA and DNA-based nanocomposites by high-school female interns.
This is a collaborative project linked with Award Nos.: 0968656 and 1153663, PI: Zhiqun Lin and co-PIs: Qingze Zou and Lei Zhu. The goal of this project is to develop simple and robust methods for massively producing well-positioned nanostructured materials composed of DNA or DNA-based nanocomposites, which possess unprecedented regularity, over a large area (i.e., large-scale) in a precisely controllable manner, dispensing with the need for lithography techniques. Subsequent functionalization of highly ordered DNA can serve as multifunctional materials for a variety of potential applications in nanoelectronic devices. The intellectual merit of this collaborative award includes synthesis and characterization of a novel DNA/POSS-imidazolium salt complex for large-scale patterning. To help direct imaging of DNA patterns using fluorescence microscope, DNA is stained by ethidium bromide (EB) at a base-pair/EB ratio of 10:1 (mol./mol.) before complexing with a cationic POSS-imidazolium salt. The hybrid material exhibits pathway-dependent self-assemblies (see attached image), which are useful for the alignment of DNA molecules in the evaporation-induced self-assembly patterning technology. The broader impacts of this collaborative work include all-level education in nanoscience and nanotechnology. High school students and undergraduate students, with an emphasis on minority and females, have been recruited in the co-PI’s lab at Case Western Reserve University. Knowledge obtained from this work has been disseminated via referred journal publications and conference presentations.
