The research team led by Prof. Zhiwei Lin at SCUT published a study titled 'Understanding DNA￾Encoded Carbon Nanotube Sorting and Sensing via Sub-nm Resolution Structural Determination' in Science Advances. They developed a high-resolution liquid-phase atomic force microscopy protocol that employed ultra-soft probes to precisely regulate probe-sample interaction forces through small-amplitude, high-frequency modulation. This innovative approach successfully prevented structural deformation of DNA-SWCNTs while acquiring high-resolution DNA conformational data, marking the first experimental achievement in accurately determining the structure of DNA-SWCNTs. The study revealed that specific DNA sequences can form well-ordered left-handed helical structures around SWCNTs, providing insights into the molecular mechanism behind DNA-encoded functionalization of SWCNTs.

With exceptional electrical, optical, and mechanical properties, SWCNTs are widely used in electronics, optical devices, disease diagnostics, energy storage, and other fields.