NANO: DNA-based Molecular Lithography

我们建议开发先进的光刻方法，将自组装纳米结构从生物大分子（更具体地说，DNA）转移到传统的无机材料中，这些材料具有有趣的物理性质，如电子学，光学和磁性。所开发的方法将允许并行和具有成本效益的纳米结构的制造，其在下一代计算机中具有潜在的应用，该计算机通过集成电子、光学、磁性和分子自组装来处理信息。我们提出的先进光刻方法的核心元素依赖于自组装的DNA纳米结构，它指导最终的图案。许多软光刻技术将适用于转移DNA图案。拟议的研究集成了自上而下的光刻方法和自下而上的自组装方法nanofabrication.Broad影响这一建议提出了一个全新的方法与功能，无机材料的纳米结构的制造。这项研究如果成功，可能会对纳米织物的未来发展产生重大影响，纳米织物是推动计算机快速发展的最终技术。拟议研究的跨学科性质将为参与的学生提供极好的机会，不仅可以学习基础核心科学（化学，生物学，电子学和工程学），还可以学习如何将其融入日常研究，并使用不同的方法解决具体问题。两名女研究生和一名女本科生已经加入了这个研究小组。我们将继续为该项目建立一支多元化的研究团队。

We propose to develop advanced lithography methods, which transfer self-assembled nanostructures from biomacromolecules (more specifically, DNA) into conventional inorganic materials with interesting physical properties of electronics, optics, and magnetism. The developed methodologies will allow parallel and cost-effective fabrication of nanostructures, which have potential applications in the next generation of computers that process information by integration of electronics, optics, magnetism, and molecular self-assembly. The central elements of our proposed advanced lithography methods rely on self-assembled DNA nanostructures, which direct the final patterns. Many soft-lithography techniques will be adapted to transfer DNA patterns. The proposed research integrates both top-down lithography approaches and bottom-up self-assembly approaches for nanofabrication.Broad Impact This proposal suggests a radically novel approach for fabrication of nanostructures with functional, inorganic materials. This research, if successful, could significantly influence the future development of nanofabrication, the ultimate technique that drives the rapid development of computers. The interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research will provide participating students excellent opportunities to learn not only basic core sciences (chemistry, biology, electronics and engineering), but also how to integrate them into their daily research and address specific problems using different approaches. Two women graduate students and one undergraduate student are already on this research team. We will continue to build a diverse research team for this project.