Researchers have developed an extremely strong and lightweight material by utilizing DNA nanotechnology and subsequently coating it with a thin layer of glass.
This new material is the result of research conducted by scientists at the University of Connecticut (UConn) in the United States and their partners.
According to Science Daily, this innovative material has the potential to enhance various applications, including automobiles and body armor. Remarkably, it is created using two unexpected components: DNA (nucleic acid) and glass.
The “skeleton” model of the new material made from DNA and glass – (Photo: SCIENCE DAILY).
Mr. Seok-Woo Lee, a materials scientist at UConn, stated that this new material is the most durable among all known materials.
Mr. Lee and his colleagues from UConn, Columbia University, and Brookhaven National Laboratory have published their findings in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.
They employed DNA nanotechnology, which involves constructing nanoscale structures from DNA (nucleic acid). This technology was previously established and developed by American scientist Nadrian Seeman.
According to the news outlet Greek Reporter, the team used self-assembling DNA to create the structure. This process is similar to how children’s magnetic building toys, like Magna-Tiles, work, where specific DNA segments with particular lengths and chemical properties naturally combine with one another.
After creating the “framework” from DNA, the researchers coated it with Silica. Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a chemical compound with high hardness that does not exist in a singular form but instead bonds together to form large molecules. Pure silica is a type of glass.
The Silica coating is only a few hundred atoms thick, covering only the surface of the DNA strands, while the interior remains hollow, much like empty rooms in a house. However, these internal voids contribute to the new material’s lightweight nature.
The choice to use glass as a component for the new material is surprising, given that glass is typically known to be brittle. However, the brittleness of glass often arises from structural imperfections, such as cracks, scratches, or missing atoms.
When glass is flawless, it becomes exceedingly strong. In fact, one cubic centimeter of perfect glass can withstand immense pressure, reaching up to several tons.
