Electronic structure of single DNA molecules resolved by transverse scanning tunnelling spectroscopy

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Errez Shapir - , Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Autor:in)
  • Hezy Cohen - , Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Autor:in)
  • Arrigo Calzolari - , National Research Council of Italy (CNR) (Autor:in)
  • Carlo Cavazzoni - , National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Cineca - Consorzio interuniversitario italiane (Autor:in)
  • Dmitry A. Ryndyk - , Professur für Materialwissenschaft und Nanotechnik, Professur für Theoretische Chemie, Universität Regensburg, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (Autor:in)
  • Gianaurelio Cuniberti - , Professur für Materialwissenschaft und Nanotechnik, Universität Regensburg, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (Autor:in)
  • Alexander Kotlyar - , Tel Aviv University (Autor:in)
  • Rosa Di Felice - , National Research Council of Italy (CNR) (Autor:in)
  • Danny Porath - , Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Autor:in)

Abstract

Attempts to resolve the energy-level structure of single DNA molecules by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy span over the past two decades, owing to the unique ability of this technique to probe the local density of states of objects deposited on a surface. Nevertheless, success was hindered by extreme technical difficulties in stable deposition and reproducibility. Here, by using scanning tunnelling spectroscopy at cryogenic temperature, we disclose the energy spectrum of poly(G)-poly(C) DNA molecules deposited on gold. The tunnelling current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and their derivative (dI/dV-V) curves at 78K exhibit a clear gap and a peak structure around the gap. Limited fluctuations in the I-V curves are observed and statistically characterized. By means of ab initio density functional theory calculations, the character of the observed peaks is generally assigned to groups of orbitals originating from the different molecular components, namely the nucleobases, the backbone and the counterions.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)68-74
Seitenumfang7
FachzeitschriftNature materials
Jahrgang7
Ausgabenummer1
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Jan. 2008
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 18037894
Scopus 37649025184

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Isolated c-60 molecules, Optical spectroscopy, Contrast mechanism, Double helix, Conductance, Microscopy, Transport, Pseudopotentials, Visualization, Environment