title: Identification of single nucleotides in MoS2 nanopores.
abstract: The size of the sensing region in solid-state nanopores is determined by the size of the pore and the thickness of the pore membrane, so ultrathin membranes such as graphene and single-layer molybdenum disulphide could potentially offer the necessary spatial resolution for nanopore DNA sequencing. However, the fast translocation speeds (3,000-50,000 nt ms(-1)) of DNA molecules moving across such membranes limit their usability. Here, we show that a viscosity gradient system based on room-temperature ionic liquids can be used to control the dynamics of DNA translocation through MoS2 nanopores. The approach can be used to statistically detect all four types of nucleotide, which are identified according to current signatures recorded during their transient residence in the narrow orifice of the atomically thin MoS2 nanopore. Our technique, which exploits the high viscosity of room-temperature ionic liquids, provides optimal single nucleotide translocation speeds for DNA sequencing, while maintaining a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 10.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jiandong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roman D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Bulushev
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khlybov
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structure, Institute of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dumitru
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7388-5597
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dumcenco
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structure, Institute of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radenovic
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000737:chemistry*; D058608:Nanopores / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000032:analysis*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D009711:Nucleotides; D008982:Molybdenum; D004247:DNA; C082964:molybdenum disulfide