NIRT: GOALI: Self Assembly at Photonic and Electronic Scales

这项资助解决了在纳米和介观尺度上制造的两个关键问题：(1)自组装的DNA支架能否用于自组装复杂的光子和电子结构？(2)支架本身的部分能否用作此类组件的活性组件？基于Watson-Crick碱基配对的自组装DNA纳米结构(以及三向连接的组装)只需将组成DNA的序列混合在一起并对混合进行退火热处理即可。已经报道了纳米级图案的大型(毫米级)阵列。这种阵列可以寻址，并可以结合化学功能和光学元件，为建造电子、光子和化学设备开辟了新的可能性。如果设计得当，覆盖表面的阵列的成本可以相当低，也许每平方米覆盖的表面只需几美元。这笔赠款的重点是可再生能源。这种支架可以放置量子点、光子天线、用于光驱动制氢的催化剂或用于合理设计光伏的导电聚合物。一种类型的阵列将包括将光集中在分离电荷的分子上的天线结构。其目标是在染料分子的单层中吸收所有入射的阳光，这将极大地简化分子光伏器件的设计。如果成功，这种方法开启了将高度的光学和电子复杂性结合到完全自组装的超分子系统中的可能性。模仿自然界能源生产的纳米工程材料(但也更坚固)可以为可再生能源的产生贡献一种新的方法。与摩托罗拉的合作为该技术的经济发展提供了可能性。

This grant addresses two issues critical to manufacturing at the nano- and meso-scales:(1) Can self-assembled DNA scaffolds be used to self-assemble complex photonic and electronic structures? (2) Can parts of the scaffold itself be used as active components of such assemblies?Self-assembled DNA nanostructures based on Watson-Crick base-pairing (and the assembly of three-way junctions) are made simply by mixing together component DNA sequences and annealing the mix. Large (mm-scale) arrays of nanometer-scale motifs have been reported. Such arrays can be made addressable, and can incorporate chemical function and optical elements, opening up new possibilities for building electronic, photonic and chemical devices. Designed appropriately, the cost of arrays that cover surfaces can be quite small, perhaps a few dollars per square meter of surface covered. This grant focuses on renewable energy. The scaffolds could position quantum dots, photonic antennas, catalysts for light-driven hydrogen generation or conducting polymers for rationally-designed photovoltaics. One type of array will incorporate antenna structures that concentrate light on molecules that separate charge. The goal is to absorb all incident sunlight in just a monolayer of dye molecules, which would greatly simplify the design of molecular photovolataic devices. If successful, this approach opens up the possibility of incorporating a high degree of optical and electronic complexity into a supramolecular system that is entirely self-assembled. Nano-engineered materials that mimic nature's energy production (but that are also much more robust) could contribute a new approach to the generation of renewable energy. A partnership with Motorola offers possibilities for economic development of the technology.