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How can molecules attached to a nanowire change its electrical current?
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nanotechnology
Examples from biological and mechanical realms illustrate various “orders of magnitude” (powers of 10), from 10−2 meter down to 10−7 meter.
Molecules attached to the surface of a nanowire can change its electrical current by locally perturbing the wire's electronic band structure.1
Because nanowires possess a high surface-to-volume ratio, they are exceptionally sensitive to their environment. By coating a nanowire's surface with specific sensor molecules designed to bind to particular chemical or biological species, the resulting charge-induced changes in the electrical current can be measured to detect the presence of those specific substances. This mechanism is a foundational strategy for developing highly sensitive nanosensors capable of detecting even single molecules.21