  Recently solid state nanopores nanogaps have generated a lot of interest in
ultrafast DNA sequencing. However, there are challenges to slow down the DNA
translocation process to achieve a single nucleobase resolution. A series of
computational tools have been used in an attempt to study the DNA
translocations in several model systems. The prospect of finding an efficient
nanoelectrode for such human genome sequencing might offer an entirely
innovative way of preventive health care. Here, we have studied the performance
of a boron carbide BC$_3$ based nanogap setup for DNA sequencing using the
density functional theory and non equilibrium Greens function-based methods.
The electric current variations under different applied bias voltages are found
to be significant due to changes in the nucleotides orientation and lateral
position and can even outperform graphene. Computed relatively lower
interaction energy for BC$_3$ electrodes compared to graphene electrodes
indicates that BC$_3$ is a better nanoelectrode for DNA sequencing. From our
results, we have found that the unique identification of all four nucleotides
possible in the 0.3 to 0.4 V bias region. Furthermore, each of the four
nucleotides exhibits around one order of current difference, which makes it
possible to identify all four nucleotides uniquely. Thus, we believe that
BC$_3$ based nanoelectrodes may be utilized toward the development of a
practical nanodevice for DNA sequencing.
