DNA origami enabled assembly of nanophotonic structures and their applications [Invited]

Nanophotonics is an emerging hot area that finds applications in optics, sensing and energy harvesting. Conventional fabrication methods are generally limited by their low spatial resolution and patterning capability, which cannot meet the demands of developing advanced nanophotonic structures. DNA origami has enabled a number of novel bottom-up strategies to assemble nanophotonic systems with nanometer accuracy and high geometric freedom. In this review, we use several representative examples to demonstrate the great patterning capability of DNA origami and discuss about the promising applications of those systems. A brief perspective is provided at the end on potential future directions of DNA origami enabled self-assembly.