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Polypeptides in alpha-helix conformation perform as diodes

Source: J. Chem. Phys. 132, 065102 (2010); doi:10.1063/1.3310387

Published 11 February 2010

KEYWORDS and PACS
Keywords
PACS
  • 85.65.+h
    Molecular electronic devices
  • 31.15.A-
    Ab initio calculations (atoms and molecules)
  • 36.20.Hb
    Macromolecular configuration (bonds, dimensions)
  • 85.30.Kk
    Semiconductor junction diodes
  • 33.15.Kr
    Molecular electric and magnetic moments (and derivatives), polarizability, and magnetic susceptibility
  • 36.20.Ey
    Macromolecular conformation (statistics and dynamics)
  • YEAR: 2010
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PUBLICATION DATA
ISSN:
1553-9628 (online)
Publisher:
AIP is a member of CrossRef AIP
Dahiyana Cristancho1 and Jorge M. Seminario1,2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, USA
2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, USA
Molecules that resemble a semiconductor diode depletion zone are those with an intrinsic electric dipole, which were suggested as potential electronic devices. However, so far, no single molecule has met such a goal because any electron donor-acceptor linker strongly diminishes any possibility of diode behavior. We find an intrinsic diode behavior in polypeptides such as poly(L-alanine) and polyglycine in alpha-helix conformation, explained in terms of molecular orbital theory using ab initio methods. The application of an antiparallel electric field with respect to the molecular dipole yields a gradual increase in current through the junction because the valence and conduction orbitals approach each other reducing their gap as the bias increases. However, a parallel field makes the gap energy increase, avoiding the pass of the electrons. ©2010 American Institute of Physics
History: Received 22 November 2009; accepted 19 January 2010; published 11 February 2010
Permalink: http://link.aip.org/link/?JCPSA6/132/065102/1

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