DIRECTIONS OF SENSORS AND MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS
Two research projects of scientists from Virginia Tech will develop new sensors for the detection of pathogens, some DNA, as well as to improve the properties of molecular devices for electronic applications. For these purposes they have received grants from the National Science Company.
The area of research is in the nanoscale (a nanometer is 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair). Scientists v Massimiliano Di Ventra of the Physics Department of Virginia Tech, with the assistance of physicists and chemists Randy Heflin, Kevin Van Cott, explores the nanoworld through computer simulation and complex applications in the field of optics, thin-film technologies and analytical biochemistry.
Sensor Technology
Heflin and Van Cott trying to develop new types of sensor for detecting the presence of biological objects - such as pathogens, DNA or biological compounds or environmental sample.
The newly developed system does not require labeling DNA samples atoms. The method built on the basis of the unique optical properties of the sensor platform to be more sensitive, more reliable, and will continue to provide high capacity (in order to search for thousands of genes at a time).
The purpose of the project is also to provide a self-assembled film nanometric thickness, especially those films which have nonlinear optical properties, which can be used for frequency doubling of the laser beam in the medium.
Self-assembling films grow additional layers of two different materials. One of these two materials specifically selected to impart nonlinear optical properties. Another material - is largely an adhesive.
The sensor works on the principle that biological molecules interact through very accurately tracked reactions at the molecular level.
Molecular electronics
The problem that arose in modern electronics based on silicon technology is that it has reached its physical limits to the possible number of transistors that can fit on a single chip. The greater the number of transistors on a chip is placed, the higher processor performance is achieved.
Therefore, the challenge is the need to come up with alternative solutions. This direction is busy Di Ventra. Electronic devices based on molecular wires could solve the problem.
V The molecules are the smallest possible device and you can put more of them on a single chip.
However, before actually researchers can rivet molecular wires in electronics, they must understand the properties of electron transport. This is what scientists are busy project. Their goal is to understand how electrons behave when traveling short distances - just a few atoms.
When an electric current is passed through the device, the current can vary within its mean value. If these oscillations, known as noise are too high, such a device can not be used practically. That is why it is important to understand the role of the current oscillations in molecular devices.
This research will allow scientists to develop a revolutionary way of creating materials and products, which will significantly increase the throughput speed of the electrons and will not allow further progress to stop the development of electronics.
Contact information:
- Dr. Heflin - 540-231-4504 or rheflin@vt.edu, http://www.phys.vt.edu/ ~ rheflin /
- Dr. Di Ventra - 540-231-8729 or diventra@vt.edu, http://www.phys.vt.edu/ ~ diventra /
- Dr. Van Cott - 540-231-4257 or kvancott@vt.edu, http://www.che.vt.edu/Vancott/vancott.htm or http://www.che.vt.edu/Vancott/Nanotechnology. htm
