Patent ID: 8507845

Claim:
A method of detecting analytes, the method comprising: a) providing a detector comprising: a membrane having a receiving surface for receiving the analytes, and an internal surface positioned opposite to the receiving surface, wherein the membrane is a material selected from the group consisting of a semiconductor, a metal and a dielectric material, and wherein the membrane has a thickness selected from the range of 5 nanometers to 50 microns; a holder for holding the membrane, wherein said holder contacts said membrane at one or more contact points; an extraction electrode positioned so as to establish an applied electric field on the internal surface of the membrane or an electron emitting layer provided on the internal surface of the membrane, thereby causing emission of electrons from the internal surface or the electron emitting layer; and an electron detector positioned to detect at least a portion of the electrons emitted from the internal surface or the electron emitting layer; b) generating a non-uniform temperature distribution along a thickness dimension, lateral dimension, vertical dimension or any combination of these of the membrane by contacting the receiving surface with the analytes, thereby exciting a mechanical deformation of the membrane that modulates the emission of electrons from the internal surface of the membrane or the emitting layer; and c) detecting the electrons emitted from the internal surface of the membrane or the emitting layer.