The unique properties of nanopores depend largely on the functionalization of the pore surface, which has always been a great challenge. In this study, a facile method for functionalizing the surface of a glass nanopipette to establish thiol-based linkage without involving Au film coating was successfully developed by utilizing the thiol–maleimide click reaction which works rapidly and with high specificity. Cysteine was employed as a model molecule to functionalize the nanopipette, resulting in pH-modulated ion-current rectification behavior which showed a good reproducible response to pH. Due to the widespread existence of thiol groups in nature, this nanopipette functionalization method has the potential and versatility to be used in a wide range of applications, including mimicking biological ion channels and fabricating sensing devices.

纳米孔的独特性质在很大程度上取决于孔表面的功能化，这一直是一个巨大的挑战。在这项研究中，通过利用硫醇-马来酰亚胺点击反应，该方法快速且具有高特异性，成功开发了一种简便的方法，可将玻璃纳米移液管的表面功能化，以建立不涉及金膜涂层的基于硫醇的键。半胱氨酸被用作模型分子以使纳米移液管功能化，从而导致pH调节的离子电流整流行为表现出对pH的良好可再现响应。由于自然界中硫醇基团的广泛存在，这种纳米移液管功能化方法具有潜力和多功能性，可用于广泛的应用，包括模拟生物离子通道和制造传感装置。