Detecting DNA Translocation through a Nanopore using a van der Waals Heterojunction Diode

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Abstract

Abstract A long-unrealized goal in solid-state nanopore sensing is to achieve out-of-plane electrical sensing and control of DNA during translocation, which is a prerequisite for base-by-base ratcheting that enables DNA sequencing in biological nanopores. Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures, with their capability to construct out-of-plane electronics with atomic layer precision, are ideal yet unexplored candidates for use as electrical sensing membranes. Here we demonstrate a nanopore architecture using a vertical 2D heterojunction diode consisting of p-type WSe 2 on n-type MoS 2 . This diode exhibits rectified interlayer tunneling currents modulated by ionic potential, while the heterojunction potential reciprocally rectifies ionic transport through the nanopore. We achieve concurrent detection of DNA translocation using both ionic and diode currents and demonstrate a 2.3-fold electrostatic slowing of average translocation speed. Encapsulation layers enhance chemical and mechanical stability and durability while preserving the spatial resolution of atomically sharp 2D heterointerface for sensing. These results establish a paradigm for out-of-plane electrical sensing of single biomolecules.
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Detecting DNA Translocation through a Nanopore using a van der Waals Heterojunction Diode | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Detecting DNA Translocation through a Nanopore using a van der Waals Heterojunction Diode Sihan Chen, Siyuan Huang, Jangyup Son, Edmund Han, Kenji Watanabe, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5193820/v4 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Apr, 2025 Read the published version in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences → Version 4 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract A long-unrealized goal in solid-state nanopore sensing is to achieve out-of-plane electrical sensing and control of DNA during translocation, which is a prerequisite for base-by-base ratcheting that enables DNA sequencing in biological nanopores. Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures, with their capability to construct out-of-plane electronics with atomic layer precision, are ideal yet unexplored candidates for use as electrical sensing membranes. Here we demonstrate a nanopore architecture using a vertical 2D heterojunction diode consisting of p-type WSe 2 on n-type MoS 2 . This diode exhibits rectified interlayer tunneling currents modulated by ionic potential, while the heterojunction potential reciprocally rectifies ionic transport through the nanopore. We achieve concurrent detection of DNA translocation using both ionic and diode currents and demonstrate a 2.3-fold electrostatic slowing of average translocation speed. Encapsulation layers enhance chemical and mechanical stability and durability while preserving the spatial resolution of atomically sharp 2D heterointerface for sensing. These results establish a paradigm for out-of-plane electrical sensing of single biomolecules. Biological sciences/Biological techniques/Nanobiotechnology/Nanopores Biological sciences/Biotechnology/Nanobiotechnology/Nanopores Physical sciences/Nanoscience and technology/Nanobiotechnology/Nanopores Physical sciences/Nanoscience and technology/Nanoscale devices/Nanopores Physical sciences/Nanoscience and technology/Nanoscale materials/Two-dimensional materials nanopore van der Waals heterojunction DNA single molecule ion transport Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files HJDnpsivRRFpreprint.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Apr, 2025 Read the published version in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences → Version 4 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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