Nano-Detectors Using Molecular Circuits Operating at THz Frequencies

摘要

We proposed two scenarios for signal encoding and transmission in molecular circuits that can be used for standoff detection of biological and chemical agents: One is based on the characteristic vibrational behavior of molecules and clusters and the other is based on their molecular electrostatic potentials. It is proposed that these two scenarios can be used for molecular signal processing and transfer in molecular sensors; theoretical demonstrations using state of the art and precise computational techniques are presented for these two paradigms. The molecular electrostatic potential in the neighborhood of a molecule has very well defined zones of positive and negative potential that can be manipulated to encode information. On the other hand, vibrational modes of long molecules can be used to transfer signals between distances not accessible by standard fabrication techniques. In additions, the development of molecular amplifiers allows us to transfer signals through the nano-micro interface needed to pass the information to the macroscopic world. These scenarios allow extremely lower energies, higher speeds, and higher integration densities than in any other technology. Thus, the use of these two low-power consumption and extremely large bandwidth approaches allow us to operate at the THz range, the natural operation frequency of biological and chemical species. A review of our search for other scenarios for coding, processing and transport of information for sensing detection are provided.