Writing DNA Bases into sp³ Quantum Defects

Area of Science:

• Quantum Optics
• Materials Science
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• Quantum defects in carbon nanotubes offer room-temperature single-photon emission.
• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) provides programmable molecular information storage.
• A direct chemical link between DNA sequence and semiconductor defect properties is missing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a chemical framework for translating DNA sequence information into semiconductor defect energetics.
• To create nucleobase-specific quantum defects in carbon nanotubes.
• To establish a programmable method for controlling quantum optical properties using DNA.

Main Methods:

• In situ diazotization of nucleobases within DNA-wrapped carbon nanotube scaffolds.
• Selective activation of adenine, cytosine, and guanine primary aromatic amines.
• Spectroscopic and theoretical analysis of defect-induced optical signatures.

Main Results:

• Native DNA bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine) were successfully written into carbon nanotube color centers.
• Distinct, nucleobase-specific optical signatures were observed for each incorporated base.
• Thymine acted as a chemically inert spacer, enabling programmable defect incorporation.
• DNA templating ensured uniform defect formation by confining reactive intermediates.
• Emission energies were found to be dependent on nucleobase identity, not defect density.

Conclusions:

• A direct chemical bridge between molecular sequence and quantum photonics was established.
• In situ diazotization enables precise control over semiconductor defect properties using DNA.
• This method allows encoding molecular information into the energetic landscape of quantum defects.