Doped Biomolecules in miniaturized electric junctions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates control over electrical properties in nano junctions by doping protein molecules with C60, enabling reproducible device operation and offering insights into electron transport at the molecular level.

Contribution

It introduces a novel doping method using site-directed C60 targeting in proteins within miniaturized transistors, extending microelectronic techniques to the nanometer scale.

Findings

Doped protein molecules show robust, reproducible electrical behavior.

Dopant binding site critically influences electron transport.

Platform enables ex-situ biochemical process studies.

Abstract

Control over molecular scale electrical properties within nano junctions is demonstrated, utilizing site-directed C60 targeting into protein macromolecules as a doping means. The protein molecules, self-assembled in a miniaturized transistor device, yield robust and reproducible operation. Their device signal is dominated by an active center that inverts affinity upon guest incorporation and thus controls the properties of the entire macromolecule. We show how the leading routs of electron transport can be drawn, spatially and energetically, on the molecular level and, in particular, how the dopant effect is dictated by its 'strategic' binding site. Our findings propose the extension of microelectronic methodologies to the nanometer scale and further present a promising platform for ex-situ studies of biochemical processes.