Piezoelectric-based nanopore device for the active control of the motion of polymers through the same

1. A method for fabricating an apparatus by applying piezoelectric material for controlling a polymer through a nanopore, comprising:

forming a reservoir filled with conductive fluid;

forming a membrane, wherein the membrane separates the reservoir;

forming a nanopore through the membrane;

wherein the membrane comprises electrically conductive layers, piezoelectric layers, and electrically insulating layers; and

wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to control a size of the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to control the thickness of part of the membrane when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to control a polymer through the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to clamp a polymer in the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to stretch a polymer in the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to break a polymer in the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to clamp a polymer at two locations to break the polymer when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to increase in thickness to move a piezoelectric-layer-clamped polymer through the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer is charged or non-charged.

10. An apparatus for controlling a polymer with piezoelectric material through a nanopore, comprising:

a reservoir filled with a conductive fluid;

a membrane separating the reservoir, the membrane comprising electrical conductive layers, piezoelectric layers, and insulating layers; and

a nanopore through the membrane;

wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to control a polymer through the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to control the thickness of part of the membrane when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to clamp the polymer in the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to stretch the polymer in the nanopore when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to break the polymer in the nanopore.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the polymer is charged or non-charged.

16. A system for controlling a polymer through a nanopore utilizing piezoelectric material, comprising:

an apparatus comprising:

a reservoir filled with a conductive fluid;

a membrane separating the reservoir, the membrane comprising electrically conductive layers, piezoelectric layers, and electrically insulating layers; and

a nanopore through the membrane; and

a voltage bias;

wherein when the voltage bias is applied to the piezoelectric layers, the piezoelectric layers are operative to control a polymer through the nanopore.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the voltage bias is applied to the piezoelectric layers, the piezoelectric layers are operative to control a thickness of the membrane.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the voltage bias is applied to the piezoelectric layers, the piezoelectric layers are operative to clamp a polymer in the nanopore.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the voltage bias is applied to the piezoelectric layers, the piezoelectric layers are operative to stretch a polymer in the nanopore.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein when the voltage bias is applied to the piezoelectric layers, the piezoelectric layers are operative to break the polymer at a specific location by clamping the polymer at two points.

21. A method for operating an apparatus including piezoelectric material for controlling a polymer through a nanopore, comprising:

placing a polymer in an apparatus having a membrane separating the reservoir, the membrane comprising electrically conductive layers, piezoelectric layers, and electrically insulating layers, wherein a nanopore is formed through the membrane; and

applying a voltage to the piezoelectric layers;

wherein when the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers, the piezoelectric layers are operative to control a size of the nanopore.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to control the thickness of part of the membrane when the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to control a piezoelectric-layer-clamped polymer through the nanopore when the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to clamp a polymer in the nanopore when the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the piezoelectric layers are operative to stretch a polymer in the nanopore when the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layers.