Cross Disjoint Mortise Confined Solid-State Nanopores for Single-Molecule Detection

Abstract

Solid-state nanopores have attracted widespread attention in the singlemolecule detection application. However, getting controllable nanopores with high sensitivity and robustness requires a revolutionary breakthrough in nanopore fabrication. As a convenient and low-cost nanopore fabrication method, the controlled dielectric breakdown technology can hardly control the position and number of nanopores. This work proposes a concept of cross disjoint mortise confined solid-state nanopore (CDM-Nanopore) fabricated using a focused gallium ion beam and controlled dielectric breakdown technologies. A confined domain formed by the two cross disjoint mortise structures localizes the position for nanopore fabrication with a controlled dielectric breakdown method. The ion translocation analyses and noise performance of CDM-Nanopore were experimentally demonstrated with excellent sensitivities for long-term molecular detection due to their robustness and low noise characteristics of cross disjoint mortise structures. The surface charges have a great effect on the capture rate for DNA translocation in the confined nanopore while adding the formamide into G-quadruplex translocation experimentally. Besides, the COMSOL simulation results verify that the CDM-Nanopore has the same electrical properties as the conventional nanopore with the same effective thickness. These provide insight into an understanding of DNA translocation in the CDM-Nanopore to enable the localized nanopore fabrication with the controlled dielectric breakdown technology. Our results can be used to expand the membrane nanopores to zero-depth nanopores for molecular sensing and DNA/RNA sequencing.

Localized Nanopore Fabrication via Controlled Breakdown

“…Recently, Wang’s group demonstrated that the applied voltage can be controlled across different membranes and generate nanopores at a specific position in the flow system [ 155 , 156 , 197 ]. They also reported that CBD nanopores formed in a localized manner at the cross-disjoint mortise structures generated by Ga-FIB etching [ 198 ].…”

Highly Rectifying Conical Nanopores in Amorphous SiO2 Membranes for Nanofluidic Osmotic Power Generation and Electroosmotic Pumps

“…They are highly tunable in geometry and surface properties and thus enable novel applications. Examples include filtration of water to remove contaminants such as oil and dyes, nanopore sensors for single molecules, proteins, blood sugar, and drugs as well as DNA, ssDNA, and protein sequencing . The potential of using nanofluidic devices based on nanopore membranes for novel applications such as power generation and electroosmotic pumps has also been explored in detail.…”

Ultrahigh Spatial Resolution Cross-Disjoint Mortise-Confined Solid-State Nanopores with an Ultrathin Middle Layer

“…The zero-depth interfacial nanopore was formed by etching two overlapping metal nanorods in a polymer plate, demonstrating excellent mechanical properties and low noise levels . In our previous research, based on the zero-depth interfacial nanopores, we proposed a cross-disjoint mortise-confined solid-state nanopore (CDM nanopore, Figure ), fabricated by using a gallium focus ion beam and controlled dielectric breakdown technologies . The long-term molecular detection experiments have also preliminarily demonstrated the robustness and low noise characteristics of the CDM nanopore .…”

“…In our previous research, based on the zero-depth interfacial nanopores, we proposed a cross-disjoint mortise-confined solid-state nanopore (CDM nanopore, Figure ), fabricated by using a gallium focus ion beam and controlled dielectric breakdown technologies . The long-term molecular detection experiments have also preliminarily demonstrated the robustness and low noise characteristics of the CDM nanopore . In order to extend the application of CDM nanopores to DNA/RNA sequencing, high spatial resolution in CDM nanopores must be obtained.…”