Embedding a carbon nanotube across the diameter of a solid state nanopore

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel fabrication method that embeds a single-walled carbon nanotube across a solid state nanopore, enabling advanced biomolecule sensing and electronic characterization.

Contribution

A new technique combining CVD, FIB milling, and ALD to precisely position and embed a SWNT across a nanopore for enhanced sensing applications.

Findings

Successful fabrication of nanotube-embedded nanopores

Controlled adjustment of nanopore diameter via ALD

Potential for improved biomolecule detection

Abstract

A fabrication method for positioning and embedding a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) across the diameter of a solid state nanopore is presented. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to grow SWNTs over arrays of focused ion beam (FIB) milled pores in a thin silicon nitride membrane. This typically yields at least one pore whose diameter is centrally crossed by a SWNT. The final diameter of the FIB pore is adjusted to create a nanopore of any desired diameter by atomic layer deposition (ALD), simultaneously embedding and insulating the SWNT everywhere but in the region that crosses the diameter of the final nanopore, where it remains pristine and bare. This nanotube-articulated nanopore is an important step towards the realization of a new type of detector for biomolecule sensing and electronic characterization, including DNA sequencing.