A method is provided for manufacturing pigments of defined size and shape, and to pigments manufactured accordingly. The method has the steps of: a) producing a three-dimensional surface structure on a substrate, where surface regions are formed each having a gradient extending obliquely to a base level of the surface structure, and are arranged in columns which are offset relative to one another; b) applying a pigment material layer on the surface structure; c) releasing the pigment material layer from the surface structure and producing pigments.

An example of a nanopore sensor device includes one or more cis wells; a cis electrode; a plurality of trans wells, each of the plurality of trans wells separated from the one or more cis wells by a lipid/solid-state membrane having a nanopore; a plurality of trans electrodes, each of the plurality of trans electrodes associated with one of the plurality of trans wells; a first concentration of an electrolyte within the one or more cis wells; and a second concentration of the electrolyte within the trans wells, wherein the first concentration is higher than the second concentration.