DNA nanotechnology of carbon nanotube cells: physico-chemical models of self-organization and properties

We report UV and IR spectroscopic studies of partially unwrapped double helix DNA molecules with carbon nanotubes of "bundles"-type mixtures, which are spontaneously self-assembled into a coupled blocks of DNA molecule that has the chaotic ball structure with carbon nanotube. The shift of the absorption peak from 279.3 to 285.4 nm for the DNA/nanotube layer in comparison with that for DNA layer may be caused by the hydrogen bonds changing under DNA and nanotube interaction. This fact is confirmed by decrease of the wave number of N-H...N, N-H...O groups on 12 cm(-1), the absence of C-CH3 group vibration mode at 1440 cm(-1) in IR transmittance spectra from DNA/nanotubes layer, indicative of their self-assembled formation. The results of cell investigations: the maximal photoresponse in the ranges of 515-600 and 950-1070 nm is observed at the light excitation of 500-1100 nm, and change of the applied voltage. The models of electronic and photoelectronic processes in heterostructures are developed and experimentally confirmed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.