Nanostructures to control DNA strand orientation and position location for transverse DNA sequencing

A DNA sequencing device, comprising:

• a nanochannel having an axial centerline extending in an x-direction, and a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall in a y-direction, and a bottom wall defining a longitudinal flow channel;
• an electrode comprising first and second electrode members spaced apart in a z-direction to define an electrode gap measured in the z-direction across the axial centerline of the nanochannel, the electrode gap being in the range of about 0.3 nm to about 2 nm, the electrode being operable to detect a change in tunneling current as a DNA strand passes through the electrode gap;
• and
• a plurality of alignment structures extending from the first wall in the y-direction and from the second wall in the y-direction upstream of the electrode members, the plurality of alignment structures spaced apart along the x-direction of the nanochannel, do not connect the first wall and the second wall and arranged to position nucleotides of the DNA strand in a predetermined orientation as the DNA strand passes through the electrode gap, at least one of the alignment structures extending from the first wall beyond the axial centerline of the nanochannel and at least another of the alignment structures extending from the second wall beyond the wherein the y-direction is perpendicular to the x-direction and the z-direction is perpendicular to both the x-direction and the y-direction.