Understanding Electrical Conduction and Nanopore Formation During Controlled Breakdown. Issue 37 (1st August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fried, Jasper P.; Swett, Jacob L.; Nadappuram, Binoy Paulose; Fedosyuk, Aleksandra; Sousa, Pedro Miguel; Briggs, Dayrl P.; Ivanov, Aleksandar P.; Edel, Joshua B.; Mol, Jan A.; Yates, James R.
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 17:Issue 37(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-08-01
• Subjects: dielectric breakdown -- nanofabrication -- single‐molecule biosensing -- solid‐state nanopores; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202102543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Controlled breakdown has recently emerged as a highly appealing technique to fabricate solid‐state nanopores for a wide range of biosensing applications. This technique relies on applying an electric field of approximately 0.4–1 V nm −1 across the membrane to induce a current, and eventually, breakdown of the dielectric. Although previous studies have performed controlled breakdown under a range of different conditions, the mechanism of conduction and breakdown has not been fully explored. Here, electrical conduction and nanopore formation in SiN x membranes during controlled breakdown is studied. It is demonstrated that for Si‐rich SiN x, oxidation reactions that occur at the membrane‐electrolyte interface limit conduction across the dielectric. However, for stoichiometric Si3 N4 the effect of oxidation reactions becomes relatively small and conduction is predominately limited by charge transport across the dielectric. Several important implications resulting from understanding this process are provided which will aid in further developing controlled breakdown in the coming years, particularly for extending this technique to integrate nanopores with on‐chip nanostructures. Abstract : Controlled breakdown has recently emerged as a highly appealing technique to fabricate solid‐state nanopores. However, to date, the mechanism of nanopore formation during controlled breakdown has not been fully explored. Better understanding this process will aid in further developing controlled breakdown in the coming years to enable this technique to be extended to novel material systems and device geometries.