Can you imagine how to detect a single molecule? Techniques, such as fluorescent spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy have become available for us to probe single molecules. Described in this article is a simple approach based on atomically thin metallic wires. The interactions of even a single molecule with the wire may cause a large change in the conductance and mechanical properties of the wire and can thus be used to detect single molecules.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
He et al. (2002) studied this question.