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Local piezoresponse and polarization switching in nucleobase thymine microcrystals
Date Issued
2015
Date Available
2015-11-10T13:27:33Z
Abstract
Thymine (2-oxy-4-oxy-5 methyl pyrimidine) is one of the four nucleobases of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In the DNA molecule, thymine binds to adenine via two hydrogen bonds, thus stabilizing the nucleic acid structure and is involved in pairing and replication. Here, we show that synthetic thymine microcrystals grown from the solution exhibit local piezoelectricity and apparent ferroelectricity, as evidenced by nanoscale electromechanical measurements via Piezoresponse Force Microscopy. Our experimental results demonstrate significant electromechanical activity and polarization switchability of thymine, thus opening a pathway for piezoelectric and ferroelectric-based applications of thymine and, perhaps, of other DNA nucleobase materials. The results are supported by molecular modeling of polarization switching under an external electric field.
Sponsorship
European Commission - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
Other Sponsorship
Ciencia 2008 Program (FCT)
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
American Institute of Physics
Journal
Journal of Applied Physics
Volume
118
Copyright (Published Version)
2015 AIP Publishing LLC
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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