Mass detection of single biological molecules in real time by a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) is demonstrated for the first time, and this is used to perform first generation NEMS-based mass spectrometry. Precipitous frequency shifts, proportional to the mass of the molecules, are recorded in real time by the NEMS mass spectrometry system as protein molecules and nanoparticles adsorb, one-by-one, onto an ultrahigh frequency NEMS resonator.
- A. K. Naik
- M. S. Hanay
- M. L. Roukes