TY - JOUR
T1 - Probing DNA Translocations with Inplane Current Signals in a Graphene Nanoribbon with a Nanopore
AU - Heerema, Stephanie J.
AU - Vicarelli, Leonardo
AU - Pud, Sergii
AU - Schouten, Raymond N.
AU - Zandbergen, Henny W.
AU - Dekker, Cees
PY - 2018/3/27
Y1 - 2018/3/27
N2 - Many theoretical studies predict that DNA sequencing should be feasible by monitoring the transverse current through a graphene nanoribbon while a DNA molecule translocates through a nanopore in that ribbon. Such a readout would benefit from the special transport properties of graphene, provide ultimate spatial resolution because of the single-atom layer thickness of graphene, and facilitate high-bandwidth measurements. Previous experimental attempts to measure such transverse inplane signals were however dominated by a trivial capacitive response. Here, we explore the feasibility of the approach using a custom-made differential current amplifier that discriminates between the capacitive current signal and the resistive response in the graphene. We fabricate well-defined short and narrow (30 nm × 30 nm) nanoribbons with a 5 nm nanopore in graphene with a high-temperature scanning transmission electron microscope to retain the crystallinity and sensitivity of the graphene. We show that, indeed, resistive modulations can be observed in the graphene current due to DNA translocation through the nanopore, thus demonstrating that DNA sensing with inplane currents in graphene nanostructures is possible. The approach is however exceedingly challenging due to low yields in device fabrication connected to the complex multistep device layout.
AB - Many theoretical studies predict that DNA sequencing should be feasible by monitoring the transverse current through a graphene nanoribbon while a DNA molecule translocates through a nanopore in that ribbon. Such a readout would benefit from the special transport properties of graphene, provide ultimate spatial resolution because of the single-atom layer thickness of graphene, and facilitate high-bandwidth measurements. Previous experimental attempts to measure such transverse inplane signals were however dominated by a trivial capacitive response. Here, we explore the feasibility of the approach using a custom-made differential current amplifier that discriminates between the capacitive current signal and the resistive response in the graphene. We fabricate well-defined short and narrow (30 nm × 30 nm) nanoribbons with a 5 nm nanopore in graphene with a high-temperature scanning transmission electron microscope to retain the crystallinity and sensitivity of the graphene. We show that, indeed, resistive modulations can be observed in the graphene current due to DNA translocation through the nanopore, thus demonstrating that DNA sensing with inplane currents in graphene nanostructures is possible. The approach is however exceedingly challenging due to low yields in device fabrication connected to the complex multistep device layout.
KW - biosensing
KW - DNA sequencing
KW - graphene nanoribbon
KW - nanopore
KW - STEM
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044522834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acsnano.7b08635
DO - 10.1021/acsnano.7b08635
M3 - Article
C2 - 29474060
AN - SCOPUS:85044522834
SN - 1936-0851
VL - 12
SP - 2623
EP - 2633
JO - ACS nano
JF - ACS nano
IS - 3
ER -