Otto Sankey
Professor
PhD, Washington University
Professor
PhD, Washington University
| Home Department | Physics |
| Areas of Study | Electron Transport in DNA [Associate Director] |
| Link | Personal Homepage |
Background Otto Sankey is a theoretical physicist who (i) models electron transport in molecular electronics, (ii) models the properties and electronic states of materials, and (iii) works in theoretical biophysics. (i) ASU has a world-class group in the exciting emerging area of molecular electronics. This interdisciplinary group includes physicists, chemists, and engineers. The group explores electron transport through molecules usually through the mechanism of quantum tunneling. Sankey’s group is a theoretical component of that effort. (ii) Sankey’s group has a long track record in modeling new materials. Work has been performed using electronic structure methods to predict new phases of materials under pressure, or new phases created by expanding the material to produce semiconductor clathrates, zeolites, and supertetrahedral materials. (iii) Biophysics simulations are ongoing in DNA, in which the electronic states are found to dynamically localize (DyNamically Amorphous), much like electronic states in amorphous materials. (See the movie Dynamically Amorphous DNA). Additionally, force fields (empirical potential energy functions) are used to study the dynamics of DNA in water, and to investigate threading of hydrophobic molecules through ring-like molecules (a version of translocation). |
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Molecules in contact with gold films in molecular electronics. The current passes through the molecules by quantum tunneling. The molecules shown are octane, an organic molecule in gasoline.
The electronic charge density of specific states in poly(A)-poly(T) DNA. States near the bandgap (top) are localized due to disorder from vibrations, while deeper energy states are extended.
[Publication]
John K. Tomfohr and Otto F. Sankey, “Complex band structure, decay lengths, and Fermi level
alignment in simple molecular electronic systems”,
Phys.
Rev. B 65, 245105 (2002).
[Publication]
Charles W. Myles, Jianjun Dong, Otto F. Sankey, C. A. Kendziora, and G. S. Nolas, “Vibrational
properties of tin clathrate materials (Rattlers)”,
Phys.
Rev. B 65, 235208 (2002).
[Publication]
X.D. Cui, A. Primak, X. Zarate, J. Tomfohr, O.F. Sankey, A.L. Moore, D. Gust, and S.M. Lindsay,
“Reproducible Measurements of Single-Molecule Conductivity”,
Science
294, 571-574 (2001).