Skip to main content

Freely-Speaking: Quick note on bio-based antennaes

With my thesis defense coming up this Monday, I really did not have as much time to share all the interesting things I came across lately. But I did not want to miss the chance to make a quick note to myself and the readers of this site of an interesting paper, titled "DNA-based programming of quantum dot valency, self-assembly and luminescence" just published in Nature Nanotechnology.

Grigory Tikhomirov et al. report

"the self-assembly of quantum dot complexes using cadmium telluride nanocrystals capped with specific sequences of DNA. Quantum dots with between one and five DNA-based binding sites are synthesized and then used as building blocks to create a variety of rationally designed assemblies, including cross-shaped complexes containing three different types of dots...Through changes in pH, the conformation of the complexes can also be reversibly switched, turning on and off the transfer of energy between the constituent quantum dots."
In other words, what they have created are tunable bio-based antennaes which could be used for more efficient usage of the available light spectrum in future solar panel designs as another blog at IEEE noted. Cool technology!

Comments

  1. Thesis defense on Monday! Best wishes!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Is this related to that speaker that came to USC a couple years back that talked about luminescent bugs? sounds a bit different, but still interesting! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Actually, the thesis defense already happened this past Monday. And I passed!

    And Sopa, the paper is not related to the bioluminescence talk if you are thinking of the same talk I am thinking of. You may be thinking of the bacterial esparanto talk that had bacteria illumines upon a certain quorum sensing threshold.

    This paper talks about designing quantum dots with interfaces that can self-assemble with specially designed DNA pieces. These DNA pieces can act as sort of tunable antennae, basically collecting light from a larger area and with variable frequency (depending on the design of the DNA piece), and redirecting it to the quantum dot.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Focus on Algae - Part I: Bioremediation

After spending the last few blog posts on different aspects of dissimilatory bacteria , I want to switch the focus to a different class of organisms I have been interested in for a long time now. These are the algae. Algae comprise a large diversity of "sea weeds" and an even larger variety of single-celled organisms that mostly are capable of doing photosynthesis. They include the ordinary sea-weed, and make up a portion of the green slime found around the edges and the bottom of a pond. More exotic types of algae can live symbiotically - that is together with another organism in a mutually beneficial way. Lichens are an example of symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi. More information about the evolution and lineage of algae can be found in this wiki article . Image via Wikipedia Typically, these organisms are either not mentioned at all or only in conjunction with toxic algal blooms. But lately, algae, of course, have been in the news recently because of the p

In Other Words: A Life on Our Planet

I just watched this documentary together with my son and my wife. Different from David's typical approach of sparse objective commentary, this documentary movie is a personal witness statement that David Attenborough is making describing how our planet has changed in his life time. It's compelling, and urgent but still hopeful.   Please, watch this documentary and share with your friends so they get the message!

Sustainable Living - One Step at a time: Toilet Paper

Introduction It's been a while since last, I posted here. Today, I want to introduce another blogging series which I call "Sustainable Living - One Step at a time" In the past, I have often written and talked about interesting new technologies and ideas in the biological field, some of which could be used to reduce the impact human kind makes on the environment. Although many dedicated brains are tackling these interesting challenges, there are even more who are not working in these kinds of fields. What can other people do to reduce one's impact on the environment? Generally, by adapting a more sustainable approach of living.  Because so many habits and other aspects of life would need to be changed, many people may not feel that it is worth pursuing these efforts because the perceived sacrifices would be too big. Alternatively, one may not know where to start. I do not exclude myself it the latter group. So, instead of trying to do everything at the same tim