Self assembly of carbon nanotubes into two dimensional geometries using DNA origami templates.
A central challenge in nanotechnology is the parallel fabrication of complex geometries for nanodevices. Here we report a general method for arranging single walled carbon nanotubes in two dimensions using DNA origami a technique in which a long single strand of DNA is folded into a predetermined shape. We synthesize rectangular origami templates approximately 75 nm x 95 nm) that display two lines of single stranded DNA 'hooks' in a cross pattern with approximately 6 nm resolution. The perpendicular lines of hooks serve as sequence specific binding sites for two types of nanotubes, each functionalized non covalently with a distinct DNA linker molecule. The hook binding domain of each linker is protected to ensure efficient hybridization. When origami templates and DNA functionalized nanotubes are mixed, strand displacement mediated deprotection and binding aligns the nanotubes into cross junctions. Of several cross junctions synthesized by this method, one demonstrated stable field effect transistor like behaviour. In such organizations of electronic components, DNA origami serves as a programmable nanobreadboard; thus, DNA origami may allow the rapid prototyping of complex nanotube based structures.
Nature nanotechnology