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Synthesis, Characterisation and Electrical Properties of Supramolecular DNA-Templated Polymer Nanowires of 2,5-(Bis-2-thienyl)-pyrrole

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Scott Watson, Dr Joseph Hedley, Dr Miguel Galindo-Cuesta, Professor Nick Wright, Professor Bernard Connolly, Dr Ben Horrocks, Professor Andrew HoultonORCiD

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Abstract

Supramolecular polymer nanowires have been prepared by using DNA-templating of 2,5-(bis-2-thienyl)-pyrrole (TPT) by oxidation with FeCl3 in a mixed aqueous/organic solvent system. Despite the reduced capacity for strong hydrogen bonding in polyTPT compared to other systems, such as polypyrrole, the templating proceeds well. FTIR spectroscopic studies confirm that the resulting material is not a simple mixture and that the two types of polymer interact. This is indicated by shifts in bands associated with both the phosphodiester backbone and the nucleobases. XPS studies further confirm the presence of DNA and TPT, as well as dopant Cl- ions. Molecular dynamics simulations on a [{dA24:dT24}/{TPT}4] model support these findings and indicate a non-coplanar conformation for oligoTPT over much of the trajectory. AFM studies show that the resulting nanowires typically lie in the 78 nm diameter range and exhibit a smooth, continuous, morphology. Studies on the electrical properties of the prepared nanowires by using a combination of scanned conductance microscopy, conductive AFM and variable temperature two-terminal IV measurements show, that in contrast to similar DNA/polymer systems, the conductivity is markedly reduced compared to bulk material. The temperature dependence of the conductivity shows a simple Arrhenius behaviour consistent with the hopping models developed for redox polymers.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Watson SMD, Hedley JH, Galindo MA, Al-Said SAF, Wright NG, Connolly BA, Horrocks BR, Houlton A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Chemistry: A European Journal

Year: 2012

Volume: 18

Issue: 38

Pages: 12008-12019

Print publication date: 09/08/2012

ISSN (print): 0947-6539

ISSN (electronic): 1521-3765

Publisher: Wiley - V C H Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201201495

DOI: 10.1002/chem.201201495

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