Piezoresistivity in single DNA molecules.
Piezoresistivity in single DNA molecules.
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DOI:
10.1038/ncomms9032
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发表时间:
2015-09-04
影响因子:
16.6
通讯作者:
Tao N
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Bruot C;Palma JL;Xiang L;Mujica V;Ratner MA;Tao N
Piezoresistivity is a fundamental property of materials that has found many device applications. Here we report piezoresistivity in double helical DNA molecules. By studying the dependence of molecular conductance and piezoresistivity of single DNA molecules with different sequences and lengths, and performing molecular orbital calculations, we show that the piezoresistivity of DNA is caused by force-induced changes in the π–π electronic coupling between neighbouring bases, and in the activation energy of hole hopping. We describe the results in terms of thermal activated hopping model together with the ladder-based mechanical model for DNA proposed by de Gennes. Piezoresistivity finds many applications in micro-electromechanical systems, but a piezoresistive material at a molecular level has not yet been demonstrated. Here, Bruot et al. show this effect in double helix DNA molecules due to the electronic coupling between neighbouring bases upon mechanical force.