Emulating -- and surpassing -- nature: Using DNA to build nanomaterials with desired properties
Thursday, October 13, 2011 - 14:30
in Physics & Chemistry
Scientists have learned how to top nature by building crystalline materials from nanoparticles (the "atoms") and DNA (the "bonds"). The researchers have learned how to create crystals with the particles arranged in the same types of atomic lattice configurations as some found in nature, but they also have built completely new structures that have no naturally occurring mineral counterpart. Their design rules could help improve the efficiency of optics, electronics and energy storage technologies.