Prolonged DNA Translocation through Graphene-Coupled Si 3 N 4 Dual Nanopores

Nanopore technology holds immense promise for DNA sensing and sequencing, offering the potential for ultralong read lengths and real-time detection without amplification. However, the rapid translocation of DNA through these pores severely limits signal resolution and sensing accuracy. In this work, we present a novel device architecture that synergistically integrates a dual-nanopore structure with a graphene interface to achieve prolonged DNA transport in a controllable and reproducible manner. We observe a characteristic cocapture mode in the dual-pore systems that extends dwell times by approximately an order of magnitude compared to single-pore events. By transferring a graphene film onto Si 3 N 4 dual-pore systems, we fabricated a graphene-coupled Si 3 N 4 dual-nanopore device and achieved a substantial further increase in the cocaptured translocation time. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the underlying mechanism: the graphene layer modulates the axial potential inside the nanopore, inducing a more gradual drop and consequently attenuating the effective electric field gradient in the cocapture region. Concurrently, strong van der Waals and π–π interactions between the graphene surface and DNA significantly enhance interfacial adhesion. The combination of geometric tug-of-war and interfacial adsorption effects synergistically decelerates the cocaptured DNA translocation. These findings enable fine-tuned control over DNA translocation dynamics without sacrificing the signal-to-noise ratio, laying a foundation for constructing next-generation solid-state nanopore platforms with high resolution and high fidelity.