DNA, the genetic blueprint of every living thing, is nature’s most efficient storage mechanism, capable of storing about 215 million gigabytes of data per gram. This storage capacity , applied to electronics, could enable significantly more efficient data centers, faster data processing, and the processing of much more complex data. The challenge for this technological leap is to make DNA, a biological material, compatible with electronics. A team of researchers at Penn State University has succeeded in closing this major compatibility gap.

According to the researchers, the work, published in Advanced Functional Materials and filed for patent, is based on two materials: synthetic DNA, i.e. commercially available, chemically produced molecules that form short genetic sequences tailored to the needs of electronic devices; and a semiconductor material called crystalline perovskite, which is commonly used in solar cells, lasers, and data storage devices.

The researchers developed a storage resistor, a so-called memristor, which requires little energy to operate. Conventional resistors in electronic devices – from mobile phones to space shuttles – have a fixed resistance to the flow of electricity, but lose all information as soon as the power supply is interrupted. Memristors, on the other hand, allow the current to flow even after the power source has been switched off and store the direction of the previous current flow. This ability to store and process data in the same place mimics the way neurons in the brain work, potentially allowing for simultaneous and more comprehensive data processing. However, the researchers stated that this only works with sufficient storage capacity and energy – both of which would be too high for cost-effective commercial use without DNA’s ability to densely package data and store it with very low energy consumption.

“With the increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI), we need a new strategy for energy-efficient devices with high storage capacity,” said Bed Poudel, co-author and research professor of materials science and engineering at Penn State University. Poudel explained that AI and future technologies will increasingly rely on neuromorphic computing, which – similar to the human brain – can process multiple inputs simultaneously and make decisions based on past experience and future priorities. “Normally, you need more energy to store more information. However, our device consumes 100 times less energy and offers a higher storage capacity than traditional storage media such as USB sticks.”

To develop the device, the researchers applied silver nanoparticles to a layer of tailor-made DNA sequences – specially designed for composition and length – which were integrated into thin perovskite layers. This process, known as “doping”, in which small nanoparticles are applied to another material, allows researchers to change certain material properties in a targeted manner. In this case, the DNA became electrically conductive and its building blocks ?? have been optimally aligned.

Unlike natural DNA – long, intricate strands that behave like wet spaghetti to the touch – short, rigid synthetic DNA fragments enable true architectural precision at the nanoscale. Molecularly engineered DNA achieves a level of structural order, adjustable electrical conductivity, and functional control in thin films that natural DNA can’t provide, according to co-author Neela H. Yennawar, research professor and director of the Biomolecular Interactions Core Facility at Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.

“We can computationally determine exactly which sequences we need and how long they should be, and then design them specifically with synthetic DNA,” Yennawar said. “These structures can be systematically doped with silver and other ions and engineered to bond seamlessly with perovskites – transforming DNA from a biological macromolecule into a programmable, multifunctional nanomaterial platform.”

The silver nanoparticle-doped DNA and perovskite together formed biohybrid channels that directed the flow of electricity. Even at a voltage of less than 0.1 volts – for comparison: standard sockets in the USA deliver 120 volts – electrons flowed reliably through the component. When switching the current, the component reacted accordingly. Thanks to the precise DNA composition and perovskite-bonded structures, the device functioned consistently up to a temperature of nearly 250 degrees Fahrenheit (about 121 degrees Celsius) and over six weeks at room temperature. This significantly exceeded the performance standards of current perovskite-based storage media, according to the researchers. They explained that their component fulfils the same storage function as comparable technologies, but consumes only a tenth of the energy. This makes it much more suitable for energy-efficient electronics of the next generation.

“Using DNA or perovskite alone did not produce nearly as convincing a result as the combination,” Keremane said. “Only this combination enables a very high storage density with very low energy consumption at the same time.”

Next, the researchers plan to refine their approach and explore more bioinspired electronic applications.

Original paper:

Molecularly Engineered Highly Stable Memristors with Ultra‐Low Operational Voltage: Integrating Synthetic DNA with Quasi‐2D Perovskites – Keremane – Advanced Functional Materials – Wiley Online Library

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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