The invention is directed to methods of making stable lipid bilayers supported by a solid state nanopore array. Exemplary methods include the steps of masking a first layer on a planar support to form dry etch zones; dry etching the dry etch zones to form an array of apertures extending into but not through the first layer; masking a second side of the planar support body to form an etch region aligned with the array of apertures; wet etching the etch region to expose a surface of the first layer; dry etching the exposed surface of the first layer to a depth overlapping the apertures so that apertures of the array provide fluid communication across the first layer; and disposing a lipid bilayer on a surface of the first layer on a side opposite the planar support which encompasses the array of apertures.

In an assembly between a MEMS and/or NEMS electromechanical component and a casing, the electromechanical component includes at least one suspended and movable structure which is provided with at least one fixing zone, on which a region for receiving the casing is fixed, the suspended structure being at least partially formed in a cover for protecting the component or in a layer which is different from the one in which a sensitive element of the component is formed.

Provided are nanopore devices that include a hafnium oxide coating on the pores of the devices. Such devices exhibit improved stability, especially when in a salt solution environment. Also provided are related methods.

Embodiments of the present technology may allow for improved and more reliable tunneling junctions and methods of fabricating the tunneling junctions. Electrical shorting issues may be reduced by depositing electrodes without a sharp sidewall and corner but instead with a sloping or curved sidewall. Layers deposited on top of the electrode layer may then be able to adequately cover the underlying electrode layer and therefore reduce or prevent shorting. Additionally, two insulating materials may be used as the dielectric layer may reduce the possibility of incomplete coverage and the possibility of flaking. Furthermore, the electrodes may be tapered from the contact area to the junction area to provide a thin electrode where the hole is to be patterned, while the thicker contact area reduces sheet resistance. The electrode may also be patterned to be wider at the contact area and narrower at the junction area.

The present technology provides for a microfluidic substrate configured to carry out PCR on a number of polynucleotide-containing samples in parallel. The substrate can be a single-layer substrate in a microfluidic cartridge. Also provided are a method of making a microfluidic cartridge comprising such a substrate. Still further disclosed are a microfluidic valve suitable for use in isolating a PCR chamber in a microfluidic substrate, and a method of making such a valve.

The disclosure relates to a process for producing a base of an analysis cell for analyzing a biochemical material. Here, carbon-rich precursor molecules and low-carbon precursor molecules are deposited on a substrate in a defined mixing ratio in order to form a precursor layer, wherein the low-carbon precursor molecules have a defined size and a hydrophobic end group. In a further step, the precursor layer is post-treated in a suitable manner in order to produce the base as a layer with at least one pore having a pore size dependent on the defined size and a pore count dependent on the defined mixing ratio.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a sequencing unit for sequencing a biochemical material. In this case, at least one sequencing pore for sequencing the biochemical material in a precursor layer is created in a thermal lithography process in order to produce a pre-structured layer. The pre-structured layer is then converted into a graphene layer by heating to a conversion temperature in order to produce the sequencing unit. The sequencing pore is reduced to a size suitable for sequencing, depending on the transformation temperature.

Provided are a hole forming method and a hole forming apparatus capable of stably forming a single nanopore on a membrane. This hole forming method is a hole forming method for forming a hole in a film and includes: a first step of applying a first voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode, installed so as to sandwich the film provided in an electrolyte, and stopping the application of the first voltage when a current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode reaches a first threshold current so as to form a thin film portion in a part of the film; and a second step of applying a second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode after the first step so as to form a nanopore in the thin film portion.

The embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a scroll type micro-compressor, and a method for machining a fixed scroll plate and an orbit scroll plate thereof. The scroll type micro-compressor comprises a fixed scroll plate and an orbit scroll plate each integrally made with a monocrystalline silicon substrate; the compressor device has an Oldham ring structure, and reduces a mass of the orbit scroll plate by optimizing a design of a substrate of the orbit scroll plate; a cross-sectional shape of a plurality of micropores provided on a lower surface of the fixed scroll plate is set as of a fan ring, in which an electrode material is accommodated to maintain an electric field uniformity and reduce an electric field loss; and hydrophilia of inner surfaces is changed to prevent a top leakage and facilitate capillary filling of a compression chamber.

The invention relates to creating a nano-sized recess into a layer of material. For that, a first layer (100) is provided, which defines a first recess (101). The first layer (100) is then conformally covered with a second layer (107) such that the second layer evenly covers the boundaries of the first recess. In this way, the second layer defines a nano-sized recess. Furthermore, the invention relates to using such a structure with a second nano-sized recess for etching a nanoslit into a graphene layer. Furthermore, such a graphene layer with a nanoslit is described to be used for creating a crossed-nanoslit device for sequencing molecules.