title: Programmed synthesis of freestanding graphene nanomembrane arrays.
abstract: Freestanding graphene membranes are unique materials. The combination of atomically thin dimensions, remarkable mechanical robustness, and chemical stability make porous and non-porous graphene membranes attractive for water purification and various sensing applications. Nanopores in graphene and other 2D materials have been identified as promising devices for next-generation DNA sequencing based on readout of either transverse DNA base-gated current or through-pore ion current. While several ground breaking studies of graphene-based nanopores for DNA analysis have been reported, all methods to date require a physical transfer of the graphene from its source of production onto an aperture support. The transfer process is slow and often leads to tears in the graphene that render many devices useless for nanopore measurements. In this work, we report a novel scalable approach for site-directed fabrication of pinhole-free graphene nanomembranes. Our approach yields high quality few-layer graphene nanomembranes produced in less than a day using a few steps that do not involve transfer. We highlight the functionality of these graphene devices by measuring DNA translocation through electron-beam fabricated nanopores in such membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waduge
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Moneesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Upmanyu
authors.forename: Swastik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.forename: Meni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wanunu
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006108:Graphite / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D058608:Nanopores; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006108:Graphite; D004247:DNA
keywords: MEMS; arrays; nanomembranes; nanopores; transfer-free graphene