Specific Single-Molecule Detection Based on Orbital Mediated Tunneling in Nanotube Double-Barrier Heterostructures

A novel scheme that enables specificity in the detection of single molecules in the gas phase at room temperature is described, which is based on an orbital mediated tunneling mechanism and can be implemented in solid-state electronic nanodevices. The plausibility of such scheme is demonstrated computationally employing a carbon nanotube/boron nitride nanotube double-barrier heterostructure.