Patent ID: 8858778

Claim:
A method for etching a graphene nanostructure comprising: providing a piece of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite; wherein said piece of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite has a first window, a second window, and a third window; wherein said first window and said second window include one or more electrode contacts configured to receive an electrical voltage; wherein a portion of said third window includes a reaction area configured to receive a DNA sample, wherein said DNA sample comprises double-stranded DNA or single-stranded DNA; depositing said DNA sample to said reaction area; heating and melting said DNA sample; cooling said DNA sample to a room temperature; diluting said DNA sample with a buffer solution; applying said buffer solution containing said DNA sample to said reaction area; incubating said reaction area; rinsing said reaction area with a deionized water to remove said buffer solution and an excess of said DNA sample; placing said piece of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite in a humidity controlled chamber; applying a relative humidity to said piece of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite; applying said electrical voltage across said first window and said second window for approximately one to two minutes, thereby etching a surface of said highly oriented pyrolytic graphite; and rinsing said etched piece of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite in deionized water.