Volumetric Shaping of Nanoparticle-DNA Crystals by Light-Induced Milling

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• DNA-programmable self-assembly allows for controlled formation of nanoparticle crystals with specific lattice symmetries.
• Current methods offer limited mesoscale control over the morphology of these nanostructures.
• Achieving arbitrary crystal shapes remains a significant challenge in nanomaterial fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel photothermal method for shaping 3D DNA-programmable gold nanoparticle crystals.
• To enable precise control over the mesoscale architecture of self-assembled nanomaterials.
• To create custom-shaped voids within nanoparticle crystals with micron-scale accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a photothermal effect induced by plasmonic light absorption in gold nanoparticles.
• Employing local heating to achieve targeted volumetric dissolution of specific crystal areas.
• Developing an automated light-milling platform for precise material subtraction.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a technique for shaping 3D DNA-programmable crystals with arbitrary morphologies.
• Successfully created custom-shaped voids within the crystals using light-induced dissolution.
• Investigated key factors governing volumetric material subtraction computationally and experimentally.

Conclusions:

• The developed light-milling platform enables fabrication of nanomaterials with both nanoscale order and custom mesoscale architecture.
• This method overcomes limitations in mesoscale control for DNA-programmable nanostructures.
• Offers new possibilities for designing advanced optical, mechanical, and biological nanomaterials.