Smooth and conductive DNA-templated Cu₂O nanowires: growth morphology, spectroscopic and electrical characterization

DNA strands have been used as templates for the self-assembly of smooth and conductive cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanowires of diameter 12-23 nm and whose length is determined by the template (16 μm for λ-DNA). A combination of spectroscopic, diffraction and probe microscopy techniques showed that these nanowires comprise single crystallites of Cu₂O bound to the DNA molecules which fused together over time in a process analogous to Ostwald ripening, but driven by the free energy of interaction with the template as well as the surface tension. Electrical characterization of the nanowires by a non-contact method, scanned conductance microscopy and by contact mode conductive AFM showed the wires are electrically conductive. The conductivity estimated from the AFM cross section and the zero-bias conductance in conductive AFM experiments was 2.2-3.3 S cm⁻¹. These Cu₂O nanowires are amongst the thinnest reported and show evidence of strong quantum confinement in electronic spectra.