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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
09:17
Assembly of Gold Nanorods into Chiral Plasmonic Metamolecules Using DNA Origami Templates
Published on: March 5, 2019
9.1K
Tunable Fluorescence from Dye-Modified DNA-Assembled Plasmonic Nanocube Arrays
Cindy Y Zheng1, Edgar Palacios2, Wenjie Zhou1
1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 29, 2019
Summary
DNA-guided colloidal crystal engineering precisely positions dyes within plasmonic nanocube antennas. This method allows for tunable dye emission by controlling antenna structure and the nanoscale gap size using solvent stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Colloidal crystals offer unique optical properties.
- Precise placement of functional molecules is crucial for advanced devices.
- DNA nanotechnology enables nanoscale assembly and control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer surface-confined plasmonic nanocube arrays using DNA.
- To achieve sub-nanometer precision placement of dyes into antenna hotspots.
- To investigate the solvent-dependent tuning of plasmon-dye interactions.
Main Methods:
- Template-confined colloidal crystal engineering with DNA.
- Fabrication of nanocube-based plasmonic antennas on gold substrates.
- In situ modification of antenna gap modes using solvent-responsive DNA bonds.
Main Results:
- Independent control over plasmonic gap and lattice modes achieved.
- Dye emission tuned by nanoscale architecture and gap size.
- Solvent-induced structural changes in DNA bonds modulated antenna gap.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a combined top-down and bottom-up approach for precise nanoscale assembly.
- Established a systematic method to understand plasmon-coupled dye emission.
- Highlighted potential for stimuli-responsive architectures in sensing and light sources.
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