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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
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Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis
Published on: July 10, 2021
DNA-programmed galvanic Ostwald ripening in nanoparticle assemblies
Xin Luo1, Jun Zhu1, Mirali Seyed Shariatdoust2
1Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Nature Communications
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method for controlling nanoparticle growth using DNA origami. This technique enables programmable nanofabrication of designer nanostructures with tunable plasmonic properties.
Area of Science:
- Colloidal nanoscience
- Nanofabrication
- Plasmonics
Background:
- Ostwald ripening is a thermodynamically driven process where larger nanoparticles grow at the expense of smaller ones.
- Controlling Ostwald ripening for nanofabrication has been a significant challenge in nanoscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel mechanism for controlled Ostwald ripening.
- To harness Ostwald ripening as a programmable tool for nanofabrication.
- To engineer designer heterogeneous nanoparticle structures with enhanced plasmonic properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized DNA origami to precisely control interparticle distances between nanoparticles.
- Investigated contact-dependent, localized galvanic Ostwald ripening.
- Analyzed size-dependent electrochemical potentials driving asymmetric ripening.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated homogeneous silver growth on gold seeds until electrical contact.
- Showcased triggered asymmetric ripening upon nanoparticle electrical contact.
- Successfully created designer heterogeneous nanoparticle structures with enhanced plasmonic properties by programming nanoparticle contact.
Conclusions:
- Elucidated the origin of heterogeneous silver growth in nanoparticle clusters.
- Established design principles for engineering asymmetric nanostructures with predetermined morphologies.
- Advanced fundamental colloidal nanoscience and plasmonic device fabrication through programmable nanofabrication.
