Opportunities and challenges for DNA in atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing

Abstract

The revolutionary products obtained from atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing (ACSM) has motivated people to conduct more in-depth research. There is a pressing need to surpass the constraints of current technology and achieve precise construction at the atomic scale. The emergence of DNA nanotechnology has enabled DNA to serve as a template for precisely localizing functional components. These advantages of DNA in bottom-up manufacturing give it great potential in ACSM. From this perspective, we review the ability of DNA to accurately build complex structures and discuss its application and prospects in precise atomic manipulation. Finally, opportunities and challenges for DNA in ACSM are systematically summarized.

Keywords: DNA; atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing; functional devices; precision manufacturing; self-assembly.