A nanopore cell, comprising: a conductive layer; a working electrode disposed above the conductive layer and at the bottom of a well into which an electrolyte may be contained, such that at least a portion of a top base surface area of the working electrode is exposed to the electrolyte; a dielectric layer disposed horizontally adjacent to the working electrode; a first dielectric insulating wall disposed above the working electrode, positioned on top of the dielectric layer and surrounding a lower section of the well; and a second insulating wall disposed above the first insulating wall and surrounding an upper section of the well, forming an overhang above the lower section of the well; and wherein: the second insulating wall comprises a hydrophobic layer and a hydrophilic layer; the upper section of the well includes an opening that a membrane may span across; a base surface area of the opening is smaller than the at least a portion of the top base surface area of the working electrode that is exposed to the electrolyte; and wherein: a ratio of the base surface area of the opening and the at least a portion of the top base surface area of the working electrode is selected based on a desired ratio of a capacitance associated with the membrane and a capacitance associated with the working electrode in order to reduce the capacitance associated with the membrane (C membrane) while maximizing the capacitance associated with the working electrode (C electrochemical). a conductive layer; a working electrode disposed above the conductive layer and at the bottom of a well into which an electrolyte may be contained, such that at least a portion of a top base surface area of the working electrode is exposed to the electrolyte; a dielectric layer disposed horizontally adjacent to the working electrode; a first dielectric insulating wall disposed above the working electrode, positioned on top of the dielectric layer and surrounding a lower section of the well; and a second insulating wall disposed above the first insulating wall and surrounding an upper section of the well, forming an overhang above the lower section of the well; and wherein: the second insulating wall comprises a hydrophobic layer and a hydrophilic layer; the upper section of the well includes an opening that a membrane may span across; a base surface area of the opening is smaller than the at least a portion of the top base surface area of the working electrode that is exposed to the electrolyte; and wherein: a ratio of the base surface area of the opening and the at least a portion of the top base surface area of the working electrode is selected based on a desired ratio of a capacitance associated with the membrane and a capacitance associated with the working electrode in order to reduce the capacitance associated with the membrane (C membrane) while maximizing the capacitance associated with the working electrode (C electrochemical). the second insulating wall comprises a hydrophobic layer and a hydrophilic layer; the upper section of the well includes an opening that a membrane may span across; a base surface area of the opening is smaller than the at least a portion of the top base surface area of the working electrode that is exposed to the electrolyte; and wherein: a ratio of the base surface area of the opening and the at least a portion of the top base surface area of the working electrode is selected based on a desired ratio of a capacitance associated with the membrane and a capacitance associated with the working electrode in order to reduce the capacitance associated with the membrane (C membrane) while maximizing the capacitance associated with the working electrode (C electrochemical).