Application of metallo-DNA in nanoelectronics

Recent discovery of metal-mediated base pairs enabled preparation of M-DNA molecules that include various metals linearly chained along the helical axis of a DNA duplex. The M-base pairs like thymine-Hg-thymine and cytosine-Ag-cytosine fit in canonical DNA duplex and the metal array is thus shielded from solvent. The M-DNA is thus well-suited for constructing advanced molecular electronic elements like molecular wire, rectifier and switch. The PhD project is aimed at theoretical modelling of physicochemical properties of various M-DNAs including the charge-transport properties towards optimal performance of the functional molecules as nano-electronic devices. The theoretical research is conducted in close collaboration with experiment in domestic and Japanese laboratories.

References:

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