High-Sensitivity Sensor Using C60-Single Molecule Transistor

In this paper, we use the Extended Huckel Theory coupled with a non-equilibrium green function to calculate the transport proprieties of molecular single electron transistor (MSET). We present the effect of electrode materials on the transport properties in an MSET using a Fullerene (C60) molecule. The operation and performance of this MSET as a gas sensor are studied for the first time using a Fullerene as sensing material. The MSET sensors exhibited a change in the electric characteristic when the sensors were exposed to different gases. The favorable NH3 response characteristics of the MSET sensors were observed from the change in the drain-source current as a function of voltage, when the sensors were exposed to various NH3 concentrations ranging from 40 to 200 ppb. A satisfactory selectivity and remarkable high sensitivity have been found. The present results make our MSET as a very powerful candidate for use in gas sensing/measuring instrument, which allows the detection of toxic gas at low concentration.