Electrochemical behavior of self-assembled DNA-gold nanoparticle lattice films

Electrochemical processes involving self-assembled nanoparticles are currently the subject of intense research. In most studies nanoparticles are drop-cast onto an insulating barrier; however, this method has a considerable drawback in that it does not offer control over the deposition process. In this work we use a strategy based on the self-assembly of programmable atom equivalents consisting of AuNPs with complementary DNA strands. We studied the properties of the resulting films by EIS and CV. The results showed that the 3D structure influences the electrical conduction. The results of the impedance studies showed that conduction depends on the organization and thickness of the superlattice film. Our results demonstrate the formation of a hybrid electroactive device with a well-organized structure composed of different nano-sized entities working together. Our results thus pave the way for the future development of electrochemically active nanomachines based on DNA nanostructures.