Nonlinear current-voltage characteristics measured across circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule bundles

作者:Romano P*; Polcari A; Verruso B; Colantuoni V; Saldarriaga W; Baca E
来源:Journal of Applied Physics, 2007, 102(10): 103720.
DOI:10.1063/1.2817648

摘要

We measured current-voltage characteristics of circular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) bundle samples embedded in a water mantle lying on a nylon porous membrane between vacuum-evaporated gold electrodes. The nonlinear behavior observed at room temperature on samples of different molecular sizes and variable concentration was interpreted as a long-range conduction mechanism that takes place by means of charge hopping through the network of molecules. A tunneling process acting as an additional transport channel inside single molecules between energetically appropriate bases was inferred. Our data also suggest at low bias a thermionic emission mechanism by means of which the charges move from one electrode, overcoming a potential barrier. Characteristic energies involved in the transport were reproducibly measured.

  • 出版日期2007-11-15