nanomaterials Article The Stability of a Nanoparticle Diamond Lattice Linked by DNA Hamed Emamy 1,2 , Oleg Gang 2,3 and Francis W. Starr 1,4,* 1 Department of Physics, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA;
[email protected] 2 Department of Chemical Engineering, and Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA;
[email protected] 3 Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA 4 Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +1-860-685-2044 Received: 21 March 2019; Accepted: 18 April 2019; Published: 26 April 2019 Abstract: The functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs) with DNA has proven to be an effective strategy for self-assembly of NPs into superlattices with a broad range of lattice symmetries. By combining this strategy with the DNA origami approach, the possible lattice structures have been expanded to include the cubic diamond lattice. This symmetry is of particular interest, both due to the inherent synthesis challenges, as well as the potential valuable optical properties, including a complete band-gap. Using these lattices in functional devices requires a robust and stable lattice. Here, we use molecular simulations to investigate how NP size and DNA stiffness affect the structure, stability, and crystallite shape of NP superlattices with diamond symmetry. We use the Wulff construction method to predict the equilibrium crystallite shape of the cubic diamond lattice. We find that, due to reorientation of surface particles, it is possible to create bonds at the surface with dangling DNA links on the interior, thereby reducing surface energy.