Scientists use DNA to create graphene transistors

That's the theory behind a process developed by Stanford University engineers, who have found a way to grow graphene nanoribbons using strands of DNA. The development, they believe, could be the key to large scale production of graphene based transistors that are significantly smaller, faster and less power hungry than current silicon technology. The team began by combing DNA strands into relatively straight lines. They then exposed them to a solution of copper salt, which resulted in copper ions being absorbed into the DNA itself. Next, they heated the platter and bathed it in methane gas. The heat sparked a chemical reaction that freed some of the carbon atoms in the DNA and methane. These free carbon atoms quickly joined together to form stable honeycombs of graphene. "The loose carbon atoms stayed close to where they broke free from the DNA strands, and so they formed ribbons that followed the structure of the DNA," said researcher Fung Ling Yap. After this, the researchers also wanted to show that these carbon ribbons could perform electronic tasks, so they took things a step further and actually used the technique to manufacture working graphene transistors. While the assembly process still needs a lot of refinement (not all of the carbon atoms formed honeycombed ribbons a single atom thick), Yap believes the process points toward a strategy for turning graphene into a serious contender to succeed silicon. "Our DNA based fabrication method is highly scalable, offers high resolution and low manufacturing cost," she concluded. "All these advantages make the method very attractive for industrial adoption."