NER: A Novel Biomimetic Molecular Photosensor: Fabrication of a Functional Nanodevice

这项研究的目的是制造一种基于分子视黄醇（维生素A）的分子光传感器，分子视黄醇是动物视网膜中活性发色团的前体。 该方法是合成一种硫醇化的类维生素A，然后将其作为自组装单层附着在金扫描隧道显微镜尖端上。 扫描隧道显微镜将允许类维生素A修饰的尖端靠近（1 nm）金表面;小距离将允许隧道电流从尖端到表面通过分子，反之亦然。 然后使用可见光照射类维生素A桥接的隧道结，同时观察隧道电流;如果分子的激发态显著影响隧道电流，则应观察到光响应。 这样的系统将构成分子光电传感器。所描述的研究的成功结果将构成新兴的分子器件和电子学领域的重大进步，这最终可能导致需要非常少的功率的显微照相机，视网膜植入物和纳米级光电探测器。 这些方法的发展将有助于在关键的纳米技术领域保持技术优势。 此外，这项研究可能会增强在完全未经调查的条件下对类维生素A行为的了解，这可能会为更好地理解视力和视力相关疾病（其中一个例子是年龄相关性黄斑变性）铺平道路。

The objective of this research is the fabrication of a working molecular photosensor based on the molecule retinol (vitamin A), precursor of the active chromophore present in animal retinae. The approach is to synthesize a thiolated retinoid, and then attach it as a self assembled monolayer to a gold scanning tunneling microscope tip. The scanning tunneling microscope will allow the retinoid modified tip to be brought into close proximity ( 1nm) to a gold surface; the small distance will allow a tunneling current to pass through the molecule from tip to surface or vice versa. The retinoid bridged tunneling junction will then be irradiated using visible light while the tunneling current is observed; if the excited state of the molecule significantly affects the tunneling current, a photoresponse should be observed. Such a system would constitute a molecular photosensor.A successful result for the described research would constitute a significant advance in the emerging field of molecular devices and electronics, which could ultimately lead to microscopic cameras, retinal implants, and nanoscale photodetectors that require very little power. The development of these methods will help maintain technical superiority in the critical nanotechnology field. Additionally, this study may enhance knowledge of the behavior of retinoids under completely uninvestigated conditions, which may pave the way to a greater understanding of vision and vision related disorders (an example of which is age-related macular degeneration).