Effects of DNA nucleotide adsorption on the conductance of graphene nanoribbons from first principles

Abstract

The effects of DNA nucleotide adsorption on the conductance of graphene nanoribbons are investigated through first-principles calculations. We find that, for the adsorption of a single nucleotide, the negatively charged phosphate produces conductance dips associated with quasibound states, reducing the hole conductance. The conductance of conduction electrons is also reduced by electron scattering at the Coulomb potential barriers produced by the phosphate, with no noticeable conductance dips near the Fermi level. Our results indicate that graphene nanoribbon is promising for the application to DNA sensor utilizing quantum carrier conductance. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.