Electrical characterization of gold-DNA-gold structures in presence of an external magnetic field by means of I-V curve analysis

Sensors (Basel). 2012;12(3):3578-3586. doi: 10.3390/s120303578. Epub 2012 Mar 14.

Abstract

This work presents an experimental study of gold-DNA-gold structures in the presence and absence of external magnetic fields with strengths less than 1,200.00 mT. The DNA strands, extracted by standard method were used to fabricate a Metal-DNA-Metal (MDM) structure. Its electric behavior when subjected to a magnetic field was studied through its current-voltage (I-V) curve. Acquisition of the I-V curve demonstrated that DNA as a semiconductor exhibits diode behavior in the MDM structure. The current versus magnetic field strength followed a decreasing trend because of a diminished mobility in the presence of a low magnetic field. This made clear that an externally imposed magnetic field would boost resistance of the MDM structure up to 1,000.00 mT and for higher magnetic field strengths we can observe an increase in potential barrier in MDM junction. The magnetic sensitivity indicates the promise of using MDM structures as potential magnetic sensors.

Keywords: Metal-DNA-Metal (MDM); Schottky diode; magnetic field; magnetic sensor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Electricity
  • Electrodes
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Fields*
  • Semiconductors
  • Silicon / chemistry
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Gold
  • DNA
  • Silicon