SEOUL, June 08 (AJP) - Researchers in South Korea have developed a method to coat chemical catalysts with single-stranded DNA, enabling precise control over the surrounding chemical environment to improve hydrogen and chemical production, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Sunday.
The research team, led by Professor Park Ji-min from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)'s department of chemical and biomolecular engineering, applied single-stranded DNA to the surface of gold nanoparticle catalysts. By altering the sequence of the DNA, the researchers could control the local acidity and ion distribution at a nanometer scale without changing the structure of the catalyst itself.
In chemical reactions driven by electricity, the immediate environment surrounding a catalyst determines how efficiently it operates. Traditionally, scientists used polymer coatings to manage this space, but these materials lacked the precision needed to design internal structures at a microscopic level. Because DNA naturally carries a negative charge and its structure can be altered by changing its sequence, it serves as an effective tool for guiding the movement of ions.
Using real-time analysis techniques, the team observed that the DNA layer functions as a customized interface that manages the flow of hydroxide ions. When applied to hydrogen generation and the conversion of glycerol, the specific DNA sequences directly impacted the efficiency of the reactions. Adjusting the sequence increased the production rate of glycerate, a material used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, demonstrating that reaction outcomes can be controlled solely through DNA modification.
The study, co-authored by doctoral students Oh Sang-yeon and Lee Tae-kyung, was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on May 5, 2026.
"This research is an example showing that DNA can be utilized not just as a genetic information storage medium, but as a precision nanomaterial to control electrochemical reactions," Professor Park said. "By adjusting the acidity and ion movement on the catalyst surface through DNA sequence design, we expect it to be widely utilized in overall carbon neutrality technologies, including hydrogen production and biomass conversion in the future."
(Reference Information)
Journal/Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society
Title: Programmable Single-Stranded DNA Layers as Modulators of Nanoscale pH at Electrocatalytic Interfaces
Link/DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c02995
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