Silicon Nitride Nanopores Formed by Simple Chemical Etching: DNA Translocations and TEM Imaging

We demonstrate DNA translocations through silicon nitride pores formed by simple chemical etching on glass substrates using microscopic amounts of hydrofluoric acid. DNA translocations and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) prove the fabrication of nanopores and allow their characterization. Fro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ACS nano 2022-11, Vol.16 (11), p.18648-18657
Main Authors: Xia, Zehui, Scott, Andre, Keneipp, Rachael, Chen, Joshua, Niedzwiecki, David J., DiPaolo, Brian, Drndić, Marija
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
DNA - chemistry
Ions
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Nanopores
Silicon Compounds - chemistry
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Summary:We demonstrate DNA translocations through silicon nitride pores formed by simple chemical etching on glass substrates using microscopic amounts of hydrofluoric acid. DNA translocations and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) prove the fabrication of nanopores and allow their characterization. From ionic measurements on 318 chips, we report the effective pore diameters ranging from zero (pristine membranes) and sub-nm to over 100 nm, within 50 μm diameter membranes. The combination of ionic conductance, DNA current blockades, TEM imaging, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) provides comprehensive information about the pore area and number, from single to few pores, and pore structure. We also show the formation of thinned membrane regions as precursors of pores. The average pore density, about 5 × 10–4 pores/μm2, allows pore number adjustment statistically (0, 1, or more). This simple and affordable chemical method for making solid-state nanopores accelerates their adoption for DNA sensing and characterization applications.
ISSN:1936-0851
1936-086X
DOI:10.1021/acsnano.2c07240