DNA-directed Formation of Inorganic Nanostructures

无机化学、生物无机化学和金属有机化学计划的这一奖项是NSF 98-20纳米技术计划的一部分，并支持西北大学查德·米尔金博士实验室的研究。这项研究包括制备由DNA和/或纳米颗粒组成的纳米结构，这些纳米结构可以是绝缘体、半导体或金属，利用DNA的化学和物理特性来控制颗粒在二维和三维材料中的放置和颗粒间的距离。该计划的最终目标是在基于杂化纳米结构的功能材料的制备中控制颗粒组成和胶体结晶。研究人员将从理论上理解这些新的纳米结构的光学、结构和电学性质。这项拟议的研究有望使合成具有预定物理和化学性质的纳米结构成为可能。这些材料可能在光催化、非线性光学、分离、传感器设计和光子学等方面有应用。

This award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program is part of the NSF 98-20 Nanotechnology initiative and supports research in the laboratories of Dr. Chad Mirkin at Northwestern University. The research involves the preparation of nanostructures consisting of DNA and/or nanoparticles, which may be insulators, semiconductors, or metals, utilizing the chemical and physical characteristics of DNA to control particle placement and interparticle distance in two and three-dimensional materials. The ultimate goal of this program is to control particle composition and colloidal crystallization in the preparation of functional materials based upon hybrid nanostructures. The investigators will develop a theoretical understanding of the optical, structural, and electrical properties of these new nanostructures. The proposed research is anticipated to allow the synthesis of nanostructures with predetermined physical and chemical properties. These materials may have applications in photocatalysis, nonlinear optics, separations, sensor design, and photonics.