GO/DNA/Au/PANi Nanocomposite with High Photoconductive Responses to Visible Light and NIR

In synthesis of nanomaterials with bottom-up approach, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) chain segment took an important role in self-assembly of nano/micro-structured materials. DNA chain segment not only has good recognition characteristics, but also holds excellent transporting properties of delivery for drugs, protein or gene. To functionalize and smart the nanocomposites for applications in several devices, in this paper, single-stranded DNA chain and graphene oxide (GO) were hybridized, and Au nanoparticles were formed in situ with chloroauric acid and aniline as reducing agent. The GO/DNA/Au/PANi (polyaniline) nanocomposite were characterized by several approaches. The photoconductive responses to weak visible light and 808 nm NIR (near infrared) were studied based on interdigital electrodes of Au on flexible polymer film substrate with casting method. The results indicate that the resulting nanocomposite exhibits good photo-switching behaviors, the ratio of On/Off is 1–2 orders of magnitudes, while the response and recovery are very rapidly. It can be used in developing an intelligent nano-carriers with external stimuli responses, light detector to NIR, nano-machine controlled by light, biomimetic materials, and so on.