Molecular sensing device

A molecular sensing system including:

• a sensing device (5) comprising at least one support layer (10), and an active layer (6) of a semi-conductive material mounted on said support layer and having at least one nano-pore (12) configured for translocation of a molecular analyte (18) therethrough;
• an electrically conducting liquid (4) in contact with the active layer in a region around said at least one nano-pore;
• and
• a signal processing circuit (7) comprising an ionic current circuit (8) configured to generate an ionic current (Ii) in the electrically conducting liquid influenced by the translocation of the molecular analyte through the at least one nano-pore,
• wherein said electrically conducting liquid comprises a first conducting liquid (4a) on a first side of the active layer and a second conducting liquid (4b) on a second side of the active layer, the first conducting liquid having a viscosity (cP1) greater than a viscosity (cP2) of the second conducting liquid, wherein the first conducting liquid is selected from the group consisting of an essentially pure room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), an RTIL mixed with at least one organic solvent, and a water-miscible RTIL mixed with water whereby the water content is less than 50 wt %,
• wherein the support layer (10) comprises a support layer orifice (14), a diameter (Ds) of the support layer orifice being greater than a diameter (Dp) of the at least one nano-pore, whereby a portion of the active layer extends over said support layer orifice in a suspended manner, and wherein at least said portion of the active layer extending over said support layer orifice in a suspended manner is the semi-conductive material,
• wherein the signal processing circuit (7) further comprises a transverse current circuit (9) configured to generate a transverse current (It) in the semi-conductive material
• and wherein cP1 at room temperature is from about 100 cP to about 500 cP.