ABSTRACT (This lecture is now available for viewing on YouTube at:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6HIeCMB_cI
The general vision for "molecular electronics" is the miniaturization of transistors to the scale of single molecules. Our research achieves this goal and surpasses it by fabricating single-molecule devices that retain innate chemical functionality. By effectively merging electronics with chemical function, we have produced a new type of high bandwidth, electronic transducer that can monitor protein motions, charge transfer events, and enzymatic activity. More than simple detectors, these devices record chemical events like oxidation, conjugation, recognition or binding, all in real time and with bond-by-bond precision.
Recent work has studied the catalytic chemistry performed by three different enzymes in order to understand the activity of these complex molecules. Furthermore, our research addresses the fundamential mechanisms that make the devices so effective, producing generalized design rules that others may follow in the investigation of any number of interesting molecules.