DNA-Guided Plasmonic Helix with Switchable Chirality

Xiang Lan, Tianji Liu, Zhiming Wang, Alexander O. Govorov, Hao Yan, Yan Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

135 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ability to dynamically tune the self-assembled structures of nanoparticles is of significant interest in the fields of chemistry and material studies. However, it continues to be challenging to dynamically tune the chiral superstructures of nanoparticles and actively switch the chiral optical properties thereof. Here, we dynamically controlled a gold nanorod 3D chiral plasmonic superstructure (a stair helix with a pinwheel end view) templated by a DNA origami supramolecular polymer, using DNA-toehold-mediated conformational change in the DNA template. The gold nanorod chiral plasmonic helix was controllably reconfigured between a tightly folded state (with a small inter-rod angle) and an extended state (with a wide inter-rod angle) of the same handedness, or between two mirror-image-like structures of opposite handedness. As a result, the chiral plasmonic properties of the gold nanorod helix superstructures, in terms of the circular dichroism amplitude, peak response frequency, and signature of chirality, were actively switched upon the DNA-guided structural reconfiguration. We envision that the strategy demonstrated here will boost the advancement of reconfigurable chiral materials with increased complexity for active light control applications through rational molecular design and predictable self-assembly procedures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11763-11770
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume140
Issue number37
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 19 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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