Three-Dimensional Uracil Network with Sodium as a Linker

Here we show that uracil and sodium form a three-dimensional metal-mediated nucleic acid network; it is grown in atomic/molecular layer-by-layer manner using the atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD) thin-film technique. The long-range ordered Na–uracil crystalline structure is evidenced as sharp Bragg reflections. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a tetrameric-like crystal structure is proposed. Na–uracil thin films are fluorescent with a lifetime 3 orders of magnitude higher than commonly seen for nucleic acid molecules. Our method provides a new approach to designing 3D nucleic acid–metal nanostructures.