Abstract
This letter presents the observation of stable and reproducible electronic conduction through double stranded (ds) DNA molecules in a nominally dry state. Stable conduction was realized by immobilizing 15 base-pair guanine:cytosine rich dsDNA within gold nanogap junctions, stabilizing the dsDNA with a polycation, and characterizing in nitrogen. In air, the current levels decrease with successive voltage scans likely due to oxidation of the guanine bases under bias. In nitrogen, reproducible current-voltage traces are observed and the current levels at specific bias points are stable with time. The stability allows comprehensive electrical studies and could enable conductance-based DNA sensors.
Keywords
biosensors; DNA; gold; molecular biophysics; molecular electronics; nanoelectronics; oxidation
Citation
DOI: 10.1063/1.3186056
Date of this Version
8-2009
Recommended Citation
Mahapatro, Ajit K.; Lee, Gil; Jeong, Kyung J.; and Janes, David B., "Stable and reproducible electronic conduction through DNA molecular junctions" (2009). Birck and NCN Publications. Paper 410.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/nanopub/410