Plasmonic Nanopores for Single Molecule DNA Sensing

Yi Li LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Department of Electrical Engineering, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium Chang Chen LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Department of Physics, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium Magnus Jonsson Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands Nicoli Francesca Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands Kherim Willems LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Department of Chemistry, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium Sarp Kerman LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Department of Physics, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium Liesbet Lagae LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Department of Physics, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium Guido Groeseneken LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Department of Electrical Engineering, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium Tim Stakenborg LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Henny Zandbergen Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands Cees Dekker Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands Pol Van Dorpe LST, IMEC, Leuven, Belgium Department of Physics, KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium

Nanopores are ideal tools for studying single molecules, such as single molecule DNA strands, and are usually interrogated by analyzing ionic current fluctuations upon molecule passage. Combining surface plasmonic structures with a single solid-state nanopore, we aim to integrate surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) inside the nanopore to provide chemical information on the passing molecules. Previously, we have well proved optical properties and SERS applications of such plasmonic nanopores. Here, we report a systematic ionic study and application of plasmonic nanopores. To eliminate the influence of metal on the nanopore impedance sensitivity, we suggest merging the dielectric (SiN) nanopore inside a larger metal (gold) nanopore-cavity to generate a hybrid pore. Based on a full understanding of ionic properties of nanopores, we can now demonstrate lambda phage DNA translocations through our hybrid pores. Folded events and the comparable duration time with conventional SiN pores indicate fluent DNA transport even with a surrounding gold layer. More interestingly, we first show that this kind of nanopore devices can be used as a fluidic valve upon laser excitations. Strong photoresistance switching is manifested as a large (>500%) increase in the ionic nanopore resistance and accompanying current rectification at high laser powers (>250%). The ability to dynamically control fluidic transport by using plasmonics may further accelerate the development of nanopore fluidics for simultaneously molecular manipulations and identifications.

liyi@imec.be