Electron beam sculpting of tunneling junction for nanopore DNA sequencing

1. A method of configuring a nanodevice, the method comprising:

filing a reservoir with a conductive fluid;

configuring a membrane to separate the reservoir in the nanodevice, the membrane comprising an electrode layer having a tunneling junction formed therein; and

configuring the membrane to have a nanopore formed through other layers of the membrane such that the nanopore is aligned with the tunneling junction of the electrode layer;

wherein when a voltage is applied to the electrode layer, a tunneling current is generated by a base in the tunneling junction to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base;

wherein when an organic coating is formed on an inside surface of the tunneling junction, transient bonds are formed between the electrode layer and the base; and

wherein the organic coating includes a selection from hydroxamic acid, resorcinol functionality, adnine monophosphonic acid, guanine monophosphonic acid, sulfonamides, and sulfonic acid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tunneling junction is cut into the electrode layer by a focused electron beam.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first insulating layer is underneath a substrate and a second insulating layer is above the substrate; and

wherein the electrode layer having the tunneling junction is above the second insulating layer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a third insulating layer is above the electrode layer; and

wherein the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer are the other layers through which the nanopore is formed.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the nanopore formed through the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer is aligned to the tunneling junction in the electrode layer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transient bonds hold the base in place against thermal motion.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transient bonds improve the current signature of the base.