DNA-based functionalization of single walled carbon nanotubes for directed assembly

A method comprising:

• functionalizing a nucleic acid with a plurality of thiol groups to form a functionalized nucleic acid;
• disposing the functionalized nucleic acid on a single wall carbon nanotube to form a nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite, wherein the thiol groups are at a defined spacing;
• disposing the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite upon a substrate that comprises a plurality of material phases;
• the material phases having a different chemistry from that of the substrate;
• the disposing being effective to permit the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite to selectively contact a material phase, wherein the defined space between the functional groups provides the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite with selectivity for selected ones of the material phases, and wherein the defined spacing between adjacent functional groups differs from an average distance between the plurality of material phases by an amount of up to about 40%.

An article comprising:

• a nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite in communication with a plurality of material phases;
• the material phases being disposed upon a substrate;
• the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite comprising:
• a functionalized nucleic acid disposed upon a carbon nanotube;
• the functionalized nucleic acid comprising a single strand of nucleic acid having functional groups disposed thereon, wherein the functional groups provide a defined spacing between the functional groups that provides the nucleic acid-carbon nanotube molecular composite with selectivity for selected ones of the material phases, and wherein the defined spacing between adjacent functional groups differs from an average distance between the plurality of material phases by an amount of up to about 40%.