Science Daily January 19, 2021
An international team of researchers (Israel, Germany, USA – Columbia University, Brookhaven National Laboratory) used DNA origami as the platform to build superconducting nanoarchitectures which involves two major components: a circular single-strand DNA as the scaffold, and a mix of complementary short strands acting as staples that determine the shape of the structure. The DNA nanowires were dropcast onto a substrate with a channel and coated with superconducting niobium nitride to convert them into conductive wires. The nanowires were suspended over the channel to isolate them from the substrate during the electrical measurements. Superconducting wires with nanometric dimensions give rise to quantum fluctuations that destroy the superconducting state resulting in resistance at low temperatures. The researchers used a high magnetic field to suppress the fluctuations and reduced about 90% of the resistance. Their process can be used in applications like interconnects for nanoelectronics and novel devices such as 3D magnetometers…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE