DNA origami impedance measurement at room temperature

Abstract

The frequency response of triangular DNA origami is obtained at room temperature. The sample shows a high impedance at low frequencies, e.g., at zero frequency 20 GΩ, which decreases almost linearly with the logarithm of the frequency reaching a low and flat value at 100 kHz where the impedance turns from capacitive to resistive, concluding that DNA can be used for transmission of signals at frequencies larger than 100 kHz. It is also found that characteristics of DNA cannot be completely disentangled from the characteristics of the substrate on which it is deposited, making the design of molecular circuits more challenging than the design of circuits with present lumped devices; this is a natural feature at the nanoscale.