Dynamic Monitoring and Sensing with Single-Molecule Nanoelectronics

摘要本研究的目的是研究单分子电路中产生的电子波动。该方法是实现实时处理算法，可以识别和解释可重复的电子信号，这可能导致实际的传感器应用。基础实验平台由单壁碳纳米管电路组成，其中单个分子已共价连接。实验方法是获取和表征这些设备产生的电子信号，作为附着的分子探针，识别或结合周围环境中的伙伴。这个项目的智力价值在于它有效地利用了最近的发现，将分子尺度电子学推向了一个直接实用的方向。优点包括来自分子器件的信号，经过适当的处理，可以用于定量测量和阐明复杂的化学过程的原理。该项目的广泛影响包括开发用于化学传感或低成本生物传感的精密灵敏设备，提供新的诊断和研究能力。所有的工作都将由研究生和本科生在一个训练环境中完成，该环境旨在让初级研究人员接触到与未来科学职业相关的问题和技术。

ECS-0802077,"Dynamic Monitoring and Sensing with Single Molecule Nanoelectronics"AbstractThe objective of this research is to study electronic fluctuations arising in single molecule circuits. The approach is to implement real-time processing algorithms that can identify and interpret reproducible electronic signals that could lead towards practical sensor applications. The underlying experimental platform is comprised of a single-walled carbon nanotube circuit, to which a single molecule has been covalently attached. The experimental approach is to acquire and characterize electronic signals arising from these devices as the attached molecule probes, recognizes, or binds to partners in the surrounding environment.The intellectual merit of this project is its effective use of recent discoveries to push molecular-scale electronics in a direction of immediate practicality. The merit includes the principle that signals from molecular devices, with appropriate processing, can be used to quantitatively measure and illuminate complex chemical processes.The broader impact of this project includes the development of exquisitely sensitive devices for chemical sensing or low cost biosensing, providing new diagnostic and research capabilities. All of the work will be completed by graduate and undergraduate students in a training environment designed to expose junior researchers to problems and techniques relevant to future careers in science.