Single molecule DNA sequencing via transverse electronic transport using a graphene nanopore: A tight-binding approach

Abstract

We report a tight-binding model study of two-terminal graphene nanopore based device, for sequential determination of DNA bases. Using Greens function approach we calculate conductance spectra, I-V response and also the changes in local density of states (LDOS) profile as four different nucleobases inserted one by one into the pore embedded in the zigzag graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR). We find distinct features in LDOS profile for different nucleotides and the same is also present in conductance and I-V response. We propose the actual working principle of the device, by setting the bias across the pore to a fixed voltage (this voltage gives maximum discrimination between characteristic current of the four nucleotides) and translocating the ss-DNA through the nanopore using a transverse electric field while recording the characteristic current of the nucleotides. Not only the typical current output is much larger than previous results, but the seaparation between them for different bases are also definite. Our investigation provides high accuracy and significant amount of distinction between different nucleotides.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure