Fabrication of nanopores using high electric fields

Abstract

A method is provided for precisely enlarging a nanopore formed in a membrane. The method includes: applying an electric potential across the nanopore, where the electric potential has a pulsed waveform oscillating between a high value and a low value; measuring current flowing though the nanopore while the electric potential is being applied to the nanopore at a low value; determining size of the nanopore based in part on the measured current; and removing the electric potential applied to the membrane when the size of the nanopore corresponds to a desired size.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 643,651 filed May 7, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 781,081 filed March 14, 2013. The entire disclosure of each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] This disclosure relates to techniques for fabricating nanopores using high electric fields. Background technique [0004] Nanotechnology relies on our ability to manipulate matter and fabricate device structures at the nanoscale. Current solid-state fabrication methods that achieve reproducible size control at the nanoscale are often complex and involve the use of expensive infrastructure operated by highly qualified personnel. For example, the problem of fabricating molecular-scale pores or nanopores in thin insulating solid-state films requires the use of focused high-energy particles produced by specialized ion beam machines (ion ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although these advances in nanofabrication have enabled the fabrication of nanoscale devices with subnanometer control within the reach of academic laboratories, they have been poorly adapted to mass-produce pores in membranes to create nanopores.

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