DNA moiré superlattices

Abstract

Moiré superlattices have been extensively designed and implemented in atomic-scale van der Waals systems and submicrometre-scale photonic systems. However, bridging the structural gap between these scales has remained a substantial challenge. Here we demonstrate engineered DNA moiré superlattices with sublattice constants as small as ~2 nm and moiré periodicities spanning tens of nanometres. Using twisted DNA origami nanoseeds, we precisely control the layered registry of 2D microscale single-stranded tile DNA sublattices, achieving seed-defined twist angles with deviations below 2°, along with customizable interlayer spacing, stacking sequences and sublattice symmetries. The modularity of nucleation sites on the seeds enables synthetic control over the nucleation and growth pathways, resulting in a high bilayer fraction of 90%. Notably, we demonstrate a gradient moiré superlattice with a gradual variation in moiré periodicity, highlighting the potential of DNA nanotechnology to construct entirely new artificial structures and materials from the bottom up.