  A nanopore based detection methodology was proposed and investigated for the
detection of Nicotine. This technique uses a Single Molecular Transistor (SMT)
working as a nanopore operational in the Coulomb Blockade regime. When the
Nicotine molecule is pulled through the nanopore area surrounded by the
Source(S), Drain(D) and Gate electrodes, the charge stability diagram can
detect the presence of the molecule and is unique for a specific molecular
structure. Due to the weak coupling between the different electrodes which is
set by the nanopore size, the molecular energy states stay almost unaffected by
the electrostatic environment that can be realised from the charge stability
diagram. Identification of different orientation and position of the Nicotine
molecule within the nanopore area can be made from specific regions of overlap
between different charge states on the stability diagram that could be used as
an electronic fingerprint for detection. This method could be advantageous and
useful to detect the presence of Nicotine in smoke which is usually performed
using chemical chromatography techniques.
