Kinetics and Mechanism of In Situ Metallization of Bulk DNA Films

DNA-templated metallization is broadly investigated in the fabrication of metallic structures by virtue of the unique DNA-metal ion interaction. However, current DNA-templated synthesis is primarily carried out based on pure DNA in an aqueous solution. In this study, we present in situ synthesis of metallic structures in a natural DNA complex bulk film by UV light irradiation, where the growth of silver particles is resolved by in situ time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering and dielectric spectroscopy. Our studies provide physical insights into the kinetics and mechanisms of natural DNA metallization, in correlation with the multi-stage switching operations in the bulk phase, paving the way towards the development of versatile biomaterial composites with tunable physical properties for optical storage, plasmonics, and catalytic applications.

Automated summary

This study presents the in situ synthesis of metallic structures in a natural DNA complex bulk film by UV light irradiation and resolves the growth process of silver particles using time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering and dielectric spectroscopy. The research provides important insights into the kinetics and mechanisms of natural DNA metallization, correlated with multi-stage switching operations in the bulk phase, paving the way for the development of versatile biomaterial composites with tunable physical properties for optical storage, plasmonics, and catalytic applications.