Stuart K Lindsay, 581945 S 1300 E APT 20, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

5497000, Mar 5, 1996

Jan 27, 1994

8/187028

Nongjian Tao - Miami FL
Stuart M. Lindsay - Tempe AZ

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

H01J 3700

250307

A method of detecting/identifying organic molecules which have been mixed th an appropriate electrolyte to form an electrolytic solution is disclosed. The organic molecules to be detected/identified are adsorbed onto the surface of a conducting substrate, which is adjusted to an overall positive voltage potential within a range of E. sub. LOW and E. sub. HIGH. The voltage potential on the surface of the conducting substrate, and, accordingly, the adsorbed organic molecules, is adjusted until an electrochemically-induced change occurs. The voltage potential at which the change occurs is characteristic of the organic molecule, thus permitting detection/identification thereof. Because the contrast of photomicrographic images generated concurrently by an associated scanning tunneling microscope is remarkably sensitive to the changes in the foregoing voltage potentials, the electrochemical ability to detect/identify organic molecules is extended to a single molecule by the combination of electrochemical and scanning tunneling microscopy techniques, according to the present invention.