Single-molecule identification via electric current noise

Abstract

Label-free and real-time single-molecule detection may aid the development of high-throughput biosensing platforms. Molecular fluctuations are a source of noise that often hinders single-molecule identification by obscuring the fine details of molecular identity. In this study, we report molecular identification through direct observation of quantum-fluctuation-induced inelastic noise in single organic molecules. We investigated current fluctuations flowing through a single molecule that is chemically connected to two electrodes. We found increased current oscillations synchronous to electric field excitations of characteristic molecular vibrational modes that contribute to inelastic electron tunnelling. This finding demonstrates a large contribution of charge interaction with nuclear dynamics on noise properties of single-molecule bridges and suggests a potential use of inelastic noise as a valuable molecular signature for single-molecule identification.