Detection of nucleotides in hydrated ssDNA via 2D h-BN nanopore with ionic-liquid/salt-water interface.

Accomplishing slow translocation speed with high sensitivity has been the most critical mission for solid-state nanopore (SSN) device to electrically detect nucleobases in ssDNA. In this study, a method to detect nucleobases of ssDNA using a 2D SSN is introduced by considerably reducing the translocation speed and effectively increasing its sensitivity. The ultra-thin titanium dioxide coated hexagonal boron nitride nanopore was fabricated, along with an ionic-liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate/2.0 M KCl aqueous (cis/trans) interface, for increasing both the spatial and the temporal resolutions. As the ssDNA molecules entered the nanopore, a brief surge of electrical conductivity occurred, which was followed by multiple resistive pulses from nucleobases during the translocation of ssDNA and another brief current surge flagging the exit of the molecule. The continuous detection of nucleobases using a 2D SSN device is a novel achievement: the water molecules bound to ssDNA increased the molecular conductivity and amplified electrical signals during the translocation. Along with the experiment, computational simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics are presented to explain the pivotal role of water molecules bound to ssDNA to detect nucleobases using a 2D SSN.