Methods for creating bilayers for use with nanopore sensors

A system for forming a membrane for use in a nanopore sensor, comprising:

• a sequencing chip comprising an array of nanopore sensors, each nanopore sensor comprising a well, an opening, and an electrode;
• a flow cell disposed over the sequencing chip, the flow cell configured to form fluid channels over the array of nanopore sensors;
• a pump configured to be in fluid communication with the flow cell and a membrane material solution;
• a processor programmed to:
• (a) pump the membrane material solution into the flow cell over the array of nanopore sensors to dispose a layer of membrane material over the opening of each well;
• (b) measure an electrical property of the layer of membrane material with the electrode to characterize the layer of membrane material, wherein the electrical property is selected from the group consisting of current, capacitance and resistance;
• and
• (c) based on the measured electrical property of step, apply a stimulus to the layer of membrane material to induce at least a portion of the layer of membrane material to form a membrane over the opening of the well, wherein the membrane has a thickness that is less than a length of a nanopore such that the nanopore when inserted into the membrane extends through the membrane and wherein the layer of membrane material has a thickness that is greater than the length of the membrane such that the nanopore cannot extend through the material layer if it is inserted into the material layer.