Computational investigation of label free detection of biomolecules based on armchair graphene nanoribbon

We propose here an amino acid nanosensor based on a single armchair graphene nanoribbon (AGNR) connected to two gold electrodes. Using the non-equilibrium Green's function method for quantum transport together with density functional theory, we compute the electrical properties of the sensor before and after the adsorption of different amino acids on the AGNR. Our results show that there is a significant shift of the projected density of states and of the transmission function, T, upon adsorption with a distinct response depending on the specific amino acid. These results suggest that AGNRs may be employed as materials of choice in bio-sensorics.