Mass spectrometry using nanomechanical systems: beyond the point-mass approximation

Abstract

The mass measurement of single molecules, in real time, is performed routinely using resonant nanomechanical devices. This approach models the molecules as point particles. A recent development now allows the spatial extent (and, indeed, image) of the adsorbate to be characterized using multimode measurements (Hanay, M. S., Nature Nanotechnol., 10, 2015, pp.