Conformation and Local Environment Dependent Conductance of DNA Molecules

Electronic properties of DNA (both conformation and local environment dependent) on a single molecular level, as well as for arrays of molecules, have been investigated in this work by using ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (see Figure) and spectroscopy. Ab initio electronic structure calculations under the same vacuum conditions have also been performed. Finally, we propose a model for the appearance of a high-conductance DNA conformation on gold surfaces.