Coupled nanopores for single-molecule detection.

Rapid sensing of molecules is increasingly important in many studies and applications, such as DNA sequencing and protein identification. Here, beyond atomically thin 2D nanopores, we conceptualize, simulate and experimentally demonstrate coupled, guiding and reusable bilayer nanopore platforms, enabling advanced ultrafast detection of unmodified molecules. The bottom layer can collimate and decelerate the molecule before it enters the sensing zone, and the top 2D pore (~2 nm) enables position sensing.

Modulation of Charge Transport through Single Molecules Induced by Solvent-Stabilized Intramolecular Charge Transfer.

The modulation of charge transport through single molecules can be established by using the intrinsic characteristics of molecules and the physical properties of their environment. Therefore, the impact of the solvent on the electronic properties of molecules in the junction and their charge transport behavior are of great interest. Here, for the first time, we focused on charge transport through dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN).

Solvent-Induced Degradation of Electrochemically Exfoliated Vanadium Selenide Visualized by Electron Microscopy.

Recently discovered two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials (2DFMs) have rapidly gained much interest in the fields of spintronics and computing, where they may prove powerful tools for miniaturizing devices such as magnetic tunnel junctions and spin-transfer torque memory bits. In addition, heterojunctions and twisted bilayer stacks of such materials may yield exotic spin textures. However, preparation of such devices is complicated by the air sensitivity of many 2DFMs.

Dextran-Coated Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles: A Computed Tomography Contrast Agent for Imaging the Gastrointestinal Tract and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Computed tomography (CT) is an X-ray-based medical imaging technique commonly used for noninvasive gastrointestinal tract (GIT) imaging. Iodine- and barium-based CT contrast agents are used in the clinic for GIT imaging; however, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) imaging is challenging since iodinated and barium-based CT agents are not specific for sites of inflammation. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNP) can produce strong X-ray attenuation due to cerium's k-edge at 40.

Potential-Induced High-Conductance Transport Pathways through Single-Molecule Junctions.

Employing single molecules as electronic circuit building blocks is one promising approach to electronic device miniaturization. We report single-molecule junction formation where the orientation of molecules can be controlled externally by the working electrode potential. The scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STM-BJ) method is used to bridge tetrafluoroterephthalic acid (TFTPA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) molecules between the Au(111) electrode and the STM tip to measure the single-molecule conductance through the junction.

Anisotropic Conductivity at the Single-Molecule Scale.

In most junctions built by wiring a single molecule between two electrodes, the electrons flow along only one axis: between the two anchoring groups. However, molecules can be anisotropic, and an orientation-dependent conductance is expected. Here, we fabricated single-molecule junctions by using the electrode potential to control the molecular orientation and access individual elements of the conductivity tensor.