Graphene Quantum Dot as a Probe for DNA Nucleobase Detection: A First Principle Study

In this study, structural stability, electronic, optical and vibrational properties of DNA nucleobase adsorbed Graphene Quantum Dot (GQD) has been investigated using density functional theory. Based on state-of-art electronic structure calculations, we predict order of GQD sensitivity for DNA nucleobase as Thymine > Cytosine > Guanine > Adenine. An interaction of GQD with DNA nucleobase leads to modulation in electronic energy gap. Our calculated UV/vis and IR vibrational spectra show unique spectral band that can be used fingerprints in next generation DNA sequencing diagnostics.