Photonic crystals, responsible for the rainbow colors of butterfly wings, have a wide range of applications, including efficient solar cells and quantum communications. However, their production was difficult. The LMU team, led by Tim Lidle, pioneered the use of DNA nanotechnology to simplify this process.
The team obtained the diamond lattice structure by magnifying it 500 times using DNA origami. This method involves folding a long strand of DNA with short DNA staples to create the desired shape. The resulting crystals, approximately ten micrometers in size, form the basis of the titanium dioxide layers that determine the photonic properties. These crystals reflect ultraviolet light, and the reflected wavelength is controlled by the thickness of the titanium dioxide layer.
This breakthrough in using DNA origami to create photonic crystals has the potential to revolutionize photonics by providing a cost-effective and scalable manufacturing alternative, particularly for visible and ultraviolet light applications. This advancement could impact energy harvesting and storage and more.
Source: Ferra
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