Chemical Sensors using Single‐Molecule Electrical Measurements

Abstract

Driven by the digitization and informatization of contemporary society, electrical sensors are developing toward minimal structure, intelligent function, and high detection resolution. Single-molecule electrical measurement techniques have been proven to be capable of label-free molecular recognition and detection, which opens a new strategy for the design of efficient single-molecule detection sensors. In this review, we outline the main advances and potentials of single-molecule electronics for qualitative identification and recognition assays at the single-molecule level. Strategies for single-molecule electro-sensing and its main applications are reviewed, mainly in the detection of ions, small molecules, oligomers, genetic materials, and proteins. This review summarizes the remaining challenges in the current development of single-molecule electrical sensing and presents some potential perspectives for this field.

Machine Learning‐Aided Data Analysis in Single‐Protein Conductance Measurement with Electron Tunneling Probes†

“…Due to their high throughput, high detection sensitivity, and ability to direct measurement without pretreatment, single‐molecule electrical measurements have received great attention as analytical methods. [ 1‐2 ] This has led to innovative development of efficient single‐molecule sensors. They rely on the nanoscale confined sensing devices, such as nanopore [ 3 ] and nanogap electrodes, [ 4 ] to convert chemical molecular states to detectable electrical signals.…”

Tuning the polarity of charge carriers in N-heterocyclic carbene-based single-molecule junctions via atomic manipulation

“…1–5 Some high-performance single-molecule devices have been conceived and manufactured, and these devices can potentially be used as switches, sensing devices, and computational transistors. 6–16 Notably, modern devices rely on p- and n-type Si-based semiconductor transistors. Therefore, single-molecule electronics necessitates the construction of p- and n-type single-molecule devices to achieve device downsizing.…”