title: Single-molecule sensing electrode embedded in-plane nanopore.
abstract: Electrode-embedded nanopore is considered as a promising device structure for label-free single-molecule sequencing, the principle of which is based on nucleotide identification via transverse electron tunnelling current flowing through a DNA translocating through the pore. Yet, fabrication of a molecular-scale electrode-nanopore detector has been a formidable task that requires atomic-level alignment of a few nanometer sized pore and an electrode gap. Here, we report single-molecule detection using a nucleotide-sized sensing electrode embedded in-plane nanopore. We developed a self-alignment technique to form a nanopore-nanoelectrode solid-state device consisting of a sub-nanometer scale electrode gap in a 15 nm-sized SiO(2) pore. We demonstrate single-molecule counting of nucleotide-sized metal-encapsulated fullerenes in a liquid using the electrode-integrated nanopore sensor. We also performed electrical identification of nucleobases in a DNA oligomer, thereby suggesting the potential use of this synthetic electrode-in-nanopore as a platform for electrical DNA sequencing.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Makusu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: Sakon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahong
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iizumi
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Masateru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Tomoji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawai
mesh_terms: D003217:Conductometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008839:Microelectrodes; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016062:Porosity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA