Graphene nanopore devices for DNA sequencing: A tight-binding model study

Abstract

We present a tight-binding model study of a two-terminal graphene nanopore device for sequential determination of DNA bases. Using Green’s function technique we investigate the changes in electronic transport properties of the device due to insertion of different nucleotides into the nanopore created within a zigzag graphene nanoribbon. First we try to characterize the device in static condition and then go for sequencing application by setting the bias across it to a specific voltage and then recording the characteristic current signals corresponding to each nucleotides of a translocating DNA. Our investigations show that graphene nanopores can certainly become very efficient and reliable for sequencing applications in future.