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DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper computer chips 13 March 2016 Prototypes for cheaper computer chips are being built with metal-containing DNA origami structures. Credit: Zoie Young, Kenny Lee and Adam Woolley Electronics manufacturers constantly hunt for ways to make faster, cheaper computer chips, often by cutting production costs or by shrinking component sizes. Now, researchers report that DNA, the genetic material of life, might help accomplish this goal when it is formed into specific shapes through a process reminiscent of the ancient art of paper folding. The researchers present their work today at the 251st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. "We would like to use DNA's very small size, base- pairing capabilities and ability to self-assemble, and direct it to make nanoscale structures that could be used for electronics," Adam T. Woolley, Ph.D., says. He explains that the smallest features on chips currently produced by electronics manufacturers are 14 nanometers wide. That's more than 10 times larger than the diameter of single-stranded DNA, meaning that this genetic material could form the basis for smaller-scale chips. "The problem, however, is that DNA does not conduct electricity very well," he says. "So we use the DNA as a scaffold and then assemble other materials on the DNA to form electronics." To design computer chips similar in function to those that Silicon Valley churns out, Woolley, in collaboration with Robert C. Davis, Ph.D., and John N. Harb, Ph.D., at Brigham Young University, is building on other groups' prior work on DNA origami and DNA nanofabrication. The most familiar form of DNA is a double helix, which consists of two single strands of DNA. Complementary bases on each strand pair up to connect the two strands, much like rungs on a twisted ladder. But to create a DNA origami structure, researchers begin with a long single strand of DNA. The strand is flexible and floppy, somewhat like a shoelace. Scientists then mix it with many other short strands of DNA—known as "staples"—that use base pairing to pull together and crosslink multiple, specific segments of the long strand to form a desired shape. However, Woolley's team isn't content with merely replicating the flat shapes typically used in traditional two-dimensional circuits. "With two dimensions, you are limited in the density of components you can place on a chip," Woolley explains. "If you can access the third dimension, you can pack in a lot more components." Kenneth Lee, an undergraduate who works with Woolley, has built a 3-D, tube-shaped DNA origami 1 / 2

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Page 1: DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper … 'origami' could help build faster, ... essence, the DNA structures ... DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper computer chips

DNA 'origami' could help build faster,cheaper computer chips13 March 2016

Prototypes for cheaper computer chips are being builtwith metal-containing DNA origami structures. Credit:Zoie Young, Kenny Lee and Adam Woolley

Electronics manufacturers constantly hunt for waysto make faster, cheaper computer chips, often bycutting production costs or by shrinking componentsizes. Now, researchers report that DNA, thegenetic material of life, might help accomplish thisgoal when it is formed into specific shapes througha process reminiscent of the ancient art of paperfolding.

The researchers present their work today at the251st National Meeting & Exposition of theAmerican Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, theworld's largest scientific society, is holding themeeting here through Thursday.

"We would like to use DNA's very small size, base-pairing capabilities and ability to self-assemble,and direct it to make nanoscale structures that

could be used for electronics," Adam T. Woolley,Ph.D., says. He explains that the smallest featureson chips currently produced by electronicsmanufacturers are 14 nanometers wide. That'smore than 10 times larger than the diameter ofsingle-stranded DNA, meaning that this geneticmaterial could form the basis for smaller-scalechips.

"The problem, however, is that DNA does notconduct electricity very well," he says. "So we usethe DNA as a scaffold and then assemble othermaterials on the DNA to form electronics."

To design computer chips similar in function tothose that Silicon Valley churns out, Woolley, incollaboration with Robert C. Davis, Ph.D., and JohnN. Harb, Ph.D., at Brigham Young University, isbuilding on other groups' prior work on DNA origamiand DNA nanofabrication.

The most familiar form of DNA is a double helix,which consists of two single strands of DNA.Complementary bases on each strand pair up toconnect the two strands, much like rungs on atwisted ladder. But to create a DNA origamistructure, researchers begin with a long singlestrand of DNA. The strand is flexible and floppy,somewhat like a shoelace. Scientists then mix itwith many other short strands of DNA—known as"staples"—that use base pairing to pull together andcrosslink multiple, specific segments of the longstrand to form a desired shape.

However, Woolley's team isn't content with merelyreplicating the flat shapes typically used intraditional two-dimensional circuits. "With twodimensions, you are limited in the density ofcomponents you can place on a chip," Woolleyexplains. "If you can access the third dimension,you can pack in a lot more components."

Kenneth Lee, an undergraduate who works withWoolley, has built a 3-D, tube-shaped DNA origami

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Page 2: DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper … 'origami' could help build faster, ... essence, the DNA structures ... DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper computer chips

structure that sticks up like a smokestack fromsubstrates, such as silicon, that will form the bottomlayer of their chip. Lee has been experimenting withattaching additional short strands of DNA to fastenother components such as nano-sized goldparticles at specific sites on the inside of the tube.The researchers' ultimate goal is to place suchtubes, and other DNA origami structures, atparticular sites on the substrate. The team wouldalso link the structures' gold nanoparticles withsemiconductor nanowires to form a circuit. Inessence, the DNA structures serve as girders onwhich to build an integrated circuit.

Lee is currently testing the characteristics of thetubular DNA. He plans to attach additionalcomponents inside the tube, with the eventual aimof forming a semiconductor.

Woolley notes that a conventional chip fabricationfacility costs more than $1 billion, in part becausethe equipment necessary to achieve the minusculedimensions of chip components is expensive andbecause the multi-step manufacturing processrequires hundreds of instruments. In contrast, afacility that harnesses DNA's knack for self-assembly would likely entail much lower start-upfunding, he states. "Nature works on a large scale,and it is really good at assembling things reliablyand efficiently," he says. "If that could be applied inmaking circuits for computers, there's potential forhuge cost savings."

More information: 3D DNA Origami TemplatedNanoscale Device Fabrication, the 251st NationalMeeting & Exposition of the American ChemicalSociety (ACS), 2016.

Provided by American Chemical SocietyAPA citation: DNA 'origami' could help build faster, cheaper computer chips (2016, March 13) retrieved30 May 2018 from https://phys.org/news/2016-03-dna-origami-faster-cheaper-chips.html

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