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arXiv · 1201.0221

Aviram-Ratner rectifying mechanism for DNA base pair sequencing through graphene nanogaps

Luis A. Agapito·Jacob Gayles·Christian Wolowiec·Nicholas Kioussis
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Abstract

We demonstrate that biological molecules such as Watson-Crick DNA base pairs can behave as biological Aviram-Ratner electrical rectifiers because of the spatial separation and weak hydrogen bonding between the nucleobases. We have performed a parallel computational implementation of the ab-initio non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) theory to determine the electrical response of graphene---base-pair---graphene junctions. The results show an asymmetric (rectifying) current-voltage response for the Cytosine-Guanine base pair adsorbed on a graphene nanogap. In sharp contrast we find a symmetric response for the Thymine-Adenine case. We propose applying the asymmetry of the current-voltage response as a sensing criterion to the technological challenge of rapid DNA sequencing via graphene nanogaps.

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Luis A. Agapito, Jacob Gayles, Christian Wolowiec, Nicholas Kioussis. 2012-02-17. Aviram-Ratner rectifying mechanism for DNA base pair sequencing through graphene nanogaps. https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484%2F23%2F13%2F135202

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