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The Study of Charge Transport in Nanoscale DNA Structures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

G. Bart
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6G 3K7
M. R. Singh
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6G 3K7
M. Zinke-Allamang
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6G 3K7
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Abstract

We have studied the variable range hopping (VRH) mechanism for polarons in DNA structures using an exponential density of states. Due to the electron-phonon interaction localized polarons are formed in the DNA helix. The unwinding of DNA increases molecular orbital overlap between bases while decreasing the base-to-base distance. These types of vibrations create phonons. We consider that DNA has a band tail which has an exponential density of states and we have calculated the temperature- and the electric field dependence of the conductivity. We compare our model with the experiments of the electrical conductivity of samples of double-stranded H5N1 genes of avian Influenza virus DNA. Our theory is able to explain their data.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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