Nature builds flawless diamonds, sapphires and other gems. Now a
Northwestern University research team is the first to build near-perfect
single crystals out of nanoparticles and DNA, using the same structure
favored by nature.
"Single crystals are the backbone of many things we rely on --
diamonds for beauty as well as industrial applications, sapphires for
lasers and silicon for electronics," said nanoscientist Chad A. Mirkin.
"The precise placement of atoms within a well-defined lattice defines
these high-quality crystals.
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| Cut diamond. Nature builds flawless diamonds, sapphires and other gems. Now a Northwestern University research team is the first to build near-perfect single crystals out of nanoparticles and DNA, using the same structure favored by nature. (Credit: © tiero / Fotolia) |
Credit: Northwestern University research team