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Title: Detection of nucleic acids by graphene-based devices: A first-principles study

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4870115· OSTI ID:22273956
 [1]; ; ; ;
  1. School of Physics and Electronics, Central South University, Changsha 410083 (China)

Based on first-principles quantum transport calculations, we design a graphene-based biosensor device, which is composed of graphene nanoribbons electrodes and a biomolecule. It is found that when different nucleobases or poly nucleobase chains are located in the nanogap, the device presents completely different transport properties, showing different current informations. And the change of currents from 2 to 5 orders of magnitude for four different nucleobases suggests a great ability of discrimination by utilizing such a device. The physical mechanism of this phenomenon originates from their different chemical composition and structure. Moreover, we also explore the coupling effect of several neighboring bases and the size effect of the nanogap on transport properties. Our results show the possibility of rapid sequencing DNA by measuring such a transverse-current of the device, and provide a new idea for sequencing DNA.

OSTI ID:
22273956
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 13; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English