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 ). <EOS>