Scientists use DNA and nanoparticles to make gems

Abstract The research team used specific nanomaterials as atoms, specific DNA as a binder, and heated to obtain the desired crystals. Recently, the research team at Northwestern University made the first perfect crystal using DNA and nanoparticles. Related research results...
The research team used specific nanomaterials as atoms, specific DNA as a binder, and heated to obtain the desired crystals.

Recently, the research team at Northwestern University made the first perfect crystal using DNA and nanoparticles. Related research results were recently published in the journal Nature.

“Perfect single crystals are used in everyday life – diamonds are not only valuable accessories, but also have a wide range of industrial uses; sapphire can be used to make laser generators, and silicon is an important electronic device.” Chad A. Mirkin, the head of the team and team, said, "The exact position of the atom in the crystal lattice determines the quality of a crystal." The single crystal is continuous and has no flawed crystal lattice, making it uniquely mechanical, Optical and electromagnetic properties. “Now, we can use DNA and nanoparticles to make crystals,” says Chad A. Mirkin.

According to reports, based on the super-crystalline lattice technology developed by the laboratory in the last two decades, the research team found a unique method - using specific nanomaterials as atoms, specific DNA as a binder, after heating The desired crystals are obtained.

"Imagine if there are one million red balls and blue balls in a container, no matter how you shake the container, the balls will not mix completely evenly," Chad A. Mirkin said. "But if you are in a full Add the appropriate DNA to the container of the nanoparticles, then shake the container. In our experiment, that is, stir the solution, you will find that all the nanoparticles will be stuck by the DNA." He said: "They make up a perfect The three-dimensional crystal."

In the above study, using a specific DNA strand as a binder, Chad A. Mirkin led the team to combine scattered gold nanoparticles into structurally ordered crystals.

The researchers said that in the above process, the ratio between the length of the DNA strand and the size of the nanoparticles is very important.

“This ratio directly determines the quality of the crystals obtained.” One of the team members, Olvera de la Cruz, a professor of chemistry at the Weinberg Institute, said, “This is also the wonder of the technology, you must have the right proportion."

She explained that the ratio of the length of the DNA strand to the size of the nanoparticle affects the energy of the crystal surface, which ultimately determines the final shape of the crystal. A ratio outside the "secret" causes fluctuations in the surface energy of the crystal, which makes it difficult to form a regular shape. Olvera de la Cruz explained that a suitable ratio would cause a small fluctuation in energy, which in turn promoted the formation of crystals. “We are aware of some suitable ratios at the moment.”

The researchers say that the length of the DNA cannot be much larger than the diameter of the nanoparticles. In the above study, each nanoparticle has a diameter between 5 and 20 nanometers. The length of the DNA is 18 base pairs and six single bases.

Although the team's current main research target is gold nanoparticles, Chad A. Mirkin said the technology can also be applied to other materials. “After technological improvements, we will be able to make larger, perfect single crystals. And in the future, our approach will be used to make monocrystalline silicon, which will greatly facilitate the development of the silicon electronics industry.”

Edible salt, also called Table Salt or just salt, is a mineral, one of a very few mineral substance commonly 

eaten by humans. There are different forms of Edible Salt: unrefined raw salt, refined salt, table salt or 

iodized refined salt. It is a crystalline solid, white or light grey in colour, obtained from sea water or from 

rock deposits. Sea Salt comes in fine or larger crystals. In nature, it includes not only Sodium Chloride

but also other vital trace minerals. Edible rock salts may be slightly greyish in colour due to this mineral 

content.

Specifications:

Hygiene

(wet base)

Specification

Test Method

Nacl

99.5% Min

 

Moisture

0.1% Max

 

Hg Water insolubles

0.05% Max

 

Ca+

10mg/kg Max

 

Mg+

5 mg/kg Max

 

SO4

0.1% Max

 

Iodine (as I)

21~33 mg/kg
     (or customized)

 

K4[Fe(CN)6]4-

(as [Fe(CN)6]4-)

5.0 – 8.0 mg/kg

 

Pb

1.0 mg/kg Max

 

As

0.5 mg/kg Max

 

Hg

0.1 mg/kg Max

 

Cd

0.5 mg/kg Max

 


 

Physics

GB5461-2000

Typical

appearance

white,salty,no abnormal odor,no impurities

whiteness

80 Min

80 Min

Grainsize
(0.15~0.85)mm

85% Min

90% Min

 

Edible Salt

Edible Salt,Solar Salt,Table Salt,Iodized Edible Sea Salt

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