Nanoscale electrical conductivity of the purple membrane monolayer

Nanoscale electron transport through the purple membrane monolayer, a two-dimensional crystal lattice of the transmembrane protein bacteriorhodopsin, is studied by conductive atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate that the purple membrane exhibits nonresonant tunneling transport, with two character...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Casuso Páramo, Ignacio, Fumagalli, Laura, 1959-, Samitier i Martí, Josep, Padrós, Esteve, Reggiani, L. (Lino), 1941-, Akimov, Vladimir, Gomila Lluch, Gabriel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2007
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/18778
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/18778
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Microelectrònica
Enginyeria biomèdica
Microelectronics
Biomedical engineering
Descripción
Sumario:Nanoscale electron transport through the purple membrane monolayer, a two-dimensional crystal lattice of the transmembrane protein bacteriorhodopsin, is studied by conductive atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate that the purple membrane exhibits nonresonant tunneling transport, with two characteristic tunneling regimes depending on the applied voltage (direct and Fowler-Nordheim). Our results show that the purple membrane can carry significant current density at the nanometer scale, several orders of magnitude larger than previously estimated by macroscale measurements.