The effect of molecular adsorption on the transport properties of single walled carbon and boron nitride nanotubes (CNTs and BNNTs) is investigated using density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green's function methods. The calculated I-V characteristics predict noticeable changes in the conductivity of semiconducting BNNTs due to physisorption of nucleic acid base molecules. Specifically, guanine which binds to the side wall of BNNT significantly enhances its conductivity by introducing conduction channels near the Fermi energy of the bioconjugated system. For metallic CNTs, a large background current masks relatively small changes in current due to the biomolecular adsorption. The results therefore suggest the suitability of BNNTs for biosensing applications.
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1 April 2013
Research Article|
April 05 2013
Applicability of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes as biosensors: Effect of biomolecular adsorption on the transport properties of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes
Xiaoliang Zhong;
Xiaoliang Zhong
1
Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University
, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA
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Saikat Mukhopadhyay;
Saikat Mukhopadhyay
1
Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University
, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA
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S. Gowtham;
S. Gowtham
1
Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University
, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA
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Ravindra Pandey;
Ravindra Pandey
a)
1
Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University
, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA
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Shashi P. Karna
Shashi P. Karna
2
US Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate
, ATTN: RDRL-WM, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005, USA
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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: [email protected]
Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 133705 (2013)
Article history
Received:
October 09 2012
Accepted:
March 25 2013
Citation
Xiaoliang Zhong, Saikat Mukhopadhyay, S. Gowtham, Ravindra Pandey, Shashi P. Karna; Applicability of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes as biosensors: Effect of biomolecular adsorption on the transport properties of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes. Appl. Phys. Lett. 1 April 2013; 102 (13): 133705. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4801442
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