One-dimensional confinement of electric field and humidity dependent DNA conductivity.
The dependence of DNA assemblies conductance on relative humidity is investigated theoretically. Following earlier suggestions, we consider the ionic conductivity through the layers of water adsorbed by DNA molecules. The increase in humidity results in a growing water layer. The binding energy of ions depends on the thickness of the water layer due to change in water polarization. This dependence is very strong at smaller thicknesses of water layers due to the low-dimensional confinement of an electric field in water. We show that the associated change in ion concentration can explain the six orders of magnitude increase in conductivity, with relative humidity growing from 0.05 to 0.95.
Leveritt
John M
JM
Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA.
Dibaya
Carmen
C
Tesar
Sarah
S
Shrestha
Rajesh
R
Burin
Alexander L
AL
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006813:Humidity; D008956:Models, Chemical; D055672:Static Electricity
D004247:DNA