DNA Mold-Based Fabrication of Continuous Silver Nanostructures
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Bottom-up fabrication of inorganic nanostructures is emerging as an alternative to classical top-down approaches, offering precise nanometer-scale control at relatively low cost and effort. In particular, DNA nanostructures provide versatile scaffolds for directly templating the growth of metal structures. Previously, a DNA mold-based method for metal nanostructure synthesis has been established that supports a modular structure design and a high control over the structure formation. So far, this method has been limited to the growth of gold and palladium nanostructures. Here, we report on the successful adaptation of the DNA mold-based fabrication method to produce continuous silver nanowires. By optimizing reagent concentrations and applying gentle thermal annealing, we obtain continuous wire structures of several hundred nanometer in length and 27 nm in diameter, overcoming limitations in anisotropic growth. Electric measurements reveal, however, an insulating behavior of these wires. Detailed material analysis shows that the structures initially consist of metallic silver. Upon the deposition on a solid substrate, the silver phase becomes contaminated mainly by atmospheric sulfur, accompanied by structural changes of the wire. This work demonstrates the versatility of DNA-based metallization and, at the same time highlights the importance of optimizing post-processing and contacting conditions for successful device fabrication using silver nanoelectrodes.
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e202500700 |
| Journal | Small Structures |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2026 |
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- DNA metallization, DNA nanostructures, DNA origami, DNA template, metal nanoparticles, nanoelectronics, seeded growth