TY - JOUR
T1 - Nanoscale electrical conductivity of the purple membrane monolayer
AU - Casuso, I
AU - Fumagalli, Laura
AU - Samitier, J
AU - Padrós, E
AU - Reggiani, L
AU - Akimov, V
AU - Gomila, G
PY - 2007/10/31
Y1 - 2007/10/31
N2 - Nanoscale electron transport through the purple membrane monolayer, a two-dimensional crystal lattice of the transmembrane protein bacteriorhodopsin, is studied by conductive atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate that the purple membrane exhibits nonresonant tunneling transport, with two characteristic tunneling regimes depending on the applied voltage (direct and Fowler-Nordheim). Our results show that the purple membrane can carry significant current density at the nanometer scale, several orders of magnitude larger than previously estimated by macroscale measurements.
AB - Nanoscale electron transport through the purple membrane monolayer, a two-dimensional crystal lattice of the transmembrane protein bacteriorhodopsin, is studied by conductive atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate that the purple membrane exhibits nonresonant tunneling transport, with two characteristic tunneling regimes depending on the applied voltage (direct and Fowler-Nordheim). Our results show that the purple membrane can carry significant current density at the nanometer scale, several orders of magnitude larger than previously estimated by macroscale measurements.
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevE.76.041919
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevE.76.041919
M3 - Article
SN - 1539-3755
VL - 76
JO - Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
JF - Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
M1 - 041919
ER -