Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured DNA-templated polyimidazole nanowire

Abstract

Abstract In this research work, nanostructured DNA-templated polyimidazole nanowires synthesized using simple and low-cost fabrication method that employed DNA as a template on which to carry out the polymerisation was reported. Their chemical properties were probed using different spectroscopic techniques (Ultra-Violet Visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy). Atomic force (AFM) and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) were used to characterize the nanowire dimensions. The techniques proved the formation of a supramolecular hybrid polymer containing DNA and imidazole polymers. The electrical property was measured using probe station. Morphological results exhibit different morphologies with agglomerate nanostructures for the diluted film, while dense rope like network of nanostructures were observed for undiluted templated polymers with diameter of 2-13 nm. Activation energy (Ea) including the uncertainty on it for the Plm/DNA bulk nanowires calculated was 10.6 ± 0.5 × 10−3 J mol−1 equivalents to 0.110 ±0.005 eV which is not surprising because the process is thermally assisted tunneling between localized sites.