title: Macroscopic highly aligned DNA nanowires created by controlled evaporative self-assembly.
abstract: By subjecting DNA aqueous solution to evaporate in a curve-on-flat geometry that was composed of either a spherical lens or a cylindrical lens situated on a flat substrate, a set of highly aligned DNA nanowires in the forms of spokes and parallel stripes over a macroscopic area (i.e., millimeter scale) were successfully created. The DNA molecules were stretched and aligned on polymer-coated substrate by the receding meniscus. The imposed curve-on-flat geometry provided a unique environment for controlling the flow within the evaporating solution by eliminating temperature gradient and possible convective instability and, thus, regulated the formation of DNA nanowires. Such controlled evaporative self-assembly is remarkably easy to implement and opens up a new avenue for crafting large-scale DNA-based nanostructures in a simple and cost-effective manner, dispensing with the need for lithography techniques.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Myunghwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qingze
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Zhiqun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D004247:DNA