Nanoelectromechanical and microelectromechanical sensors and analyzers

A method of sensing one or more molecules, said method comprising the steps of;

• providing a sensor comprising a membrane, a plurality of electromechanical resonators and a detector, wherein the membrane has a receiving surface for receiving said molecules and an inner surface opposite to said receiving surface, wherein the resonators extend vertically along a plurality of different axes that intersect the inner surface of said membrane, said resonators comprising emissive elements that generate emission having a spatial distribution, said detector positioned to receive said emission from said resonators;
• vibrating said membrane of said sensor, wherein vibration of said membrane causes each of said resonators to resonate;
• contacting said receiving surface of said membrane with said molecule, thereby causing a change in the spatial distribution of said emission from said resonators;
• and
• detecting said change in the spatial distribution of emission from said resonators, thereby sensing the molecule.

A sensor for detecting one or more molecules, said sensor comprising:

• a membrane having a receiving surface for receiving said molecules and having an inner surface opposite to said receiving surface;
• means for vibrating the membrane;
• a plurality of electromechanical resonators extending vertically along a plurality of axes that intersect the inner surface of said membrane, wherein vibration of said membrane causes the resonators to resonate, said resonators comprising emissive elements capable of generating emission, wherein at least one of said resonators generates emission when the receiving surface receives said molecules;
• and
• a detector for receiving said emission from said resonators, wherein said detector detects said emission from said resonators, thereby detecting said molecules.

A liquid phase probe for sensing molecules in a solution, said probe comprising:

• a membrane having a receiving surface for receiving said molecules in said solution and an inner surface opposite to said receiving surface;
• means for vibrating the membrane;
• a plurality of electromechanical resonators extending vertically along a plurality of axes that intersect the inner surface of said membrane, wherein vibration of said membrane causes the resonators to resonate, said resonators comprising emissive elements that generate emission having a spatial distribution, wherein the spatial distribution of said emission from said resonators changes when the receiving surface receives said molecules;
• and
• a detector for receiving said emission from said resonators, wherein said detector measures said change in the spatial distribution of said emission from said resonators, thereby sensing said molecules in solution.