Effects of Graphene Nanopore Geometry on DNA Sequencing

In this Letter we assess the effect of graphene nanopore geometries on DNA sequencing by considering DNA fragments including A, T, C, G, and 5-methylcytosine (MC) pulled out of graphene nanopores of different geometries with diameters down to ∼1 nm. Using steered molecular dynamics simulations it is demonstrated that the bases (A, T, C, G, and MC) can be indentified at single-base resolution through the characteristic peaks on the force profile in a circular graphene nanopore but not in nanopores with other asymmetric geometries. Our study suggests that the graphene nanopore surface should be modified as symmetrically as possible in order to sequence DNA by atomic force microscopy or optical tweezers

Separation of Hydrogen Gas from Coal Gas by Graphene Nanopores

We designed a series of porous graphene as the separation membrane for hydrogen gas in coal gas. The permeation process of different gas molecules (H₂, CO, CH₄, and H₂S) in porous graphene was evaluated under the atmospheric pressure and high pressure conditions. Our results indicate the hydrogen permeability and selectivity could be tuned by the size and the shape of the porous graphene. For graphene with bigger pores, the selectivity for hydrogen gas could decrease. In the porous graphene with same pore area, the hydrogen gas selectivity could be affected by the shape of the pore. The potential of mean force (PMF) of different gases to pass through a good separation candidate was calculated. The order of PMF for different gases to pass through the good separation candidate is H₂ < CO < CH₄ ≈ H₂S, which is also confirmed by the first-principle density function theory (DFT) calculation