Silicene-based DNA Nucleobase Sensing

Abstract

We propose a DNA sequencing scheme based on silicene nanopores. Using first principles theory, we compute the electrical properties of such pores in the absence and presence of nucleobases. Within a two-terminal geometry, we analyze the current-voltage relation in the presence of nucleobases with various orientations. We demonstrate that when nucleobases pass through a pore, even after sampling over many orientations, changes in the electrical properties of the ribbon can be used to discriminate between bases.