Self-Organising DNA Helps Create More Closely Spaced Devices

Small pieces of DNA known as DNA Origami have been made to self-organise onto silicon forming the scaffolding for new electronic components.  Current micro fabrication techniques can create surface features with a spacing of 45nm. Creating the transistors and electronic components closer together will ultimately lead to faster computers.

In this image, we see the DNA origami looking like the triangular shaped spaghetti hoops. The hope is that the DNA can be used to manipulate the tiny parts that will go into future devices such as carbon nanotubes. The DNA origami can be made to fill regularly spaced holes etched into the silicon carrying their cargo when they are added to liquid and this is made to contact the sillicon.

As microfibrication techniques move to a smaller scale the cost of fabrication becomes increasingly more expensive as features must be resolved using light of smaller wavelengths. The components features are made from the top down. This new technique has the scope to create parts and then introduce them to the substrate. A more bottom up approach if you will. This research and has a great deal of potential but to develop the process to a useful stage, where it might be used on a large scale may take more than ten years.

More Info