Synthesis and Characterization of DNA-Templated Nanostructures: Toward Molecular Electronics

Molecular electronics has been the subject of intese research for many years because of the fundamental interest in molecular charge transport and potential applications, such as (bio)nanosensors and molecular memory devices. Molecular electronics requires a method for making reliable eletrical contacts to singlemolecules. To date, several approaches have been reported: scanning-probe microscopy, mechanical break junctions, nano patterning, and direct deposition of electrode on a self-assembled monolayers. However, most methods are laborious and difficult for large-scale application and more importantly, cannot control the number of moleucles in the junction. Recently, DNA has been used as a template for metallic nanostructures (e.g., Ag, Pd, and Au nanowires) through DNA metallization process. Furthermore, oligodeoxynucleotides have been tethered to organic molecules by using conventional organic reactions. Collectively, these techniques should provide an efficient route toward reliable and reproducible molecular electronic devices with large-scale fabrication. Therefore, I will present a paradigm for the fabrication of moleuclar electronic devices by using micrometer-sized DNA-singe organic molecule and DNA triblock structures.