DNA-templated assembly and electrode attachment of a conducting silver wire

Recent research in the field of nanometre-scale electronics has focused on two fundamental issues: the operating principles of small-scale devices, and schemes that lead to their realization and eventual integration into useful circuits. Experimental studies on molecular1 to submicrometre2 quantum dots and on the electrical transport in carbon nanotubes3,4,5 have confirmed theoretical predictions6,7,8 of an increasing role for charging effects as the device size diminishes. Nevertheless, the construction of nanometre-scale circuits from such devices remains problematic, largely owing to the difficulties of achieving inter-element wiring and electrical interfacing to macroscopic electrodes. The use of molecular recognition processes and the self-assembly of molecules into supramolecular structures9,10 might help overcome these difficulties. In this context, DNA has the appropriate molecular-recognition11 and mechanical12,13,14,15,16 properties, but poor electrical characteristics prevent its direct use in electrical circuits. Here we describe a two-step procedure that may allow the application of DNA to the construction of functional circuits. In our scheme, hybridization of the DNA molecule with surface-bound oligonucleotides is first used to stretch it between two gold electrodes; the DNA molecule is then used as a template for the vectorial growth of a 12 µm long, 100 nm wide conductive silver wire. The experiment confirms that the recognition capabilities of DNA can be exploited for the targeted attachment of functional wires.