title: DNA base detection using a single-layer MoS2.
abstract: Nanopore-based DNA sequencing has led to fast and high-resolution recognition and detection of DNA bases. Solid-state and biological nanopores have low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (< 10) and are generally too thick (> 5 nm) to be able to read at single-base resolution. A nanopore in graphene, a 2-D material with sub-nanometer thickness, has a SNR of ∼3 under DNA ionic current. In this report, using atomistic and quantum simulations, we find that a single-layer MoS2 is an extraordinary material (with a SNR > 15) for DNA sequencing by two competing technologies (i.e., nanopore and nanochannel). A MoS2 nanopore shows four distinct ionic current signals for single-nucleobase detection with low noise. In addition, a single-layer MoS2 shows a characteristic change/response in the total density of states for each base. The band gap of MoS2 is significantly changed compared to other nanomaterials (e.g., graphene, h-BN, and silicon nanowire) when bases are placed on top of the pristine MoS2 and armchair MoS2 nanoribbon, thus making MoS2 a promising material for base detection via transverse current tunneling measurement. MoS2 nanopore benefits from a craftable pore architecture (combination of Mo and S atoms at the edge) which can be engineered to obtain the optimum sequencing signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Amir Barati
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Farimani
authors.forename: Kyoungmin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Narayana R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Aluru
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009068:Movement; D058608:Nanopores; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011789:Quantum Theory; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D008982:Molybdenum; D004247:DNA; C082964:molybdenum disulfide