Patent ID: 7001792

Claim:
A system for detecting at least one polymer, comprising: at least one semiconductor device having at least one detecting region having an opening through which said polymer can pass, said opening having a cross-sectional dimension of less, than about 100 nm and being configured such that while said at least one polymer passes through said opening, a charge of at least a component of said polymer creates image charges in said region, said image charges being sufficient to increase the conductivity of said region by an amount related to said charge of said component; said detecting region including a region of said semiconductor device including an insulating layer defining an opening in said semiconductor device having a cross-section sufficient to enable said polymer to enter said opening, such that said detecting region is adapted to detect said charge of said component in said opening, wherein said region of said detecting region includes an oxide layer defining said opening, said oxide layer including at least one silicon nanocrystal.