Self‐Assembly of DNA‐Templated Polypyrrole Nanowires: Spontaneous Formation of Conductive Nanoropes

Abstract Polypyrrole nanowires formed by polymerization of pyrrole on a DNA template self‐assemble into rope‐like structures. These ‘nanoropes’ may be quite smooth (diameters 5–30 nm) or may show frayed ends where individual strands are visible. A combination of electric force microscopy, conductive atomic force microscopy and two‐terminal current–voltage measurements show that they are conductive. Nanoropes adhere more weakly to hydrophobic surfaces prepared by silanization of SiO₂ than to the clean oxide; this effect can be used to aid the combing of the nanoropes across microelectrode devices for electrical characterization.