Electrical Response of DNA Translocation Through a Semiconductor Nanopore-Capacitor
The ability to make nanopores through semiconductor membrane has provided new experimental tools to detect and sense bio-molecules. The top figure shows a simulated cross section of a poly-Si/SiO2/poly-Si capacitor with 2.5 nm diameter nanopore, immersed in a one-mole K+Cl- solution with a 20-mer poly-C single-stranded DNA molecule in translocation through the nanopore. The color code on the right indicates the potential in the device.
The two bottom figures show the simulated voltage signal recorded to the upper and lower poly-Si electrodes during the translocation of the DNA molecules. The simulation shows the capability of the device to capture the fine molecular structure of the DNA. The irregular profile of the signal is a consequence of the DNA configuration that in our simulation is a little off-center of the nanopore.