Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made a breakthrough in the development of arrays of quantum rods for virtual reality devices. Through the use of folding DNA, the engineers have found a new method of creating these arrays, which can greatly improve the quality of the image in virtual reality.
Quantum rods have the potential to create three-dimensional images in virtual reality by controlling the polarization and color of light. However, it has been a challenge to organize them in commercially available devices.
By using DNA as supporting structures, the engineers have been successful in assembling arrays of quantum rods. “One of the challenges with quantum rods is how to align them on a nanoscale so that they are all oriented in the same direction,” says Mark Baite, a professor of biological engineering at MIT.
The new method involves attaching the quantum rods to origami-like structures made of DNA, which are then interconnected like puzzle pieces. This process takes only a few minutes and significantly speeds up production compared to existing methods.
The team is hopeful that this method can be used to create large-scale surfaces with specific patterns for various applications, including micro-lenses and virtual reality devices.
“DNA is particularly attractive as a production material because it can be biologically produced, which is scalable and stable,” adds Baite, emphasizing the focus on developing environmentally friendly quantum rods in the next phase of research.
The study was funded by the Office of Marine Research, the National Scientific Fund, the Army Research Administration, the Ministry of Energy, and the National Institute of Environmental Sciences of Health.