Ferritin-Based Single-Electron Devices

Biomolecules, vol. 12, pp. 705

Abstract

We report on the fabrication of single-electron devices based on horse-spleen ferritin particles. At low temperatures the current vs. voltage characteristics are stable, enabling the acquisition of reproducible data that establishes the Coulomb blockade as the main transport mechanism through them. Excellent agreement between the experimental data and the Coulomb blockade theory is demonstrated. Single-electron charge transport in ferritin, thus, establishes a route for further characterization of their, e.g., magnetic, properties down to the single-particle level, with prospects for electronic and medical applications.

Authors 5

1. Jacqueline A. Labra-Muñoz corresponding Aachen Department of Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory

   Leiden University · Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands

2. Arie de Reuver

   Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands

3. Friso Koeleman

   Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands

4. Martina Huber Aachen Department of Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Huygens-Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Herre S. J. van der Zant corresponding

   Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Orentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands