Silicene-based DNA Nucleobase Sensing

TL;DR

This paper introduces a DNA sequencing method using silicene nanopores, analyzing electrical property changes caused by nucleobases passing through the pore to enable base discrimination.

Contribution

It presents a novel silicene-based nanopore approach for DNA sequencing, utilizing first principles calculations to distinguish nucleobases electrically.

Findings

Electrical properties change with different nucleobases

Discrimination is possible despite various orientations

First principles calculations validate the method

Abstract

We propose a DNA sequencing scheme based on silicene nanopores. Using first principles theory, we compute the electrical properties of such pores in the absence and presence of nucleobases. Within a two-terminal geometry, we analyze the current-voltage relation in the presence of nucleobases with various orientations. We demonstrate that when nucleobases pass through a pore, even after sampling over many orientations, changes in the electrical properties of the ribbon can be used to discriminate between bases.