FET and Field Effect-Based Sensors

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "A:Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2020) | Viewed by 19272

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of BioMedical Engineering, Toyo University, 2100 Kujirai, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8585, Japan
Interests: biosensors; bioelectronics; biomaterials; conducting polymers; analytical chemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In 2022, our society will enter the Trillion Sensors Universe where things are connected on the internet with digital information through many tiny sensors in the field of medicine, agriculture, environment protection, homeland security, and so on to realize the Smart Society. Field-effect transistors (FETs) have a long history and good results in sensing and imaging applications due to their CMOS processing and wide applicability as an interface and are still good candidates for physical, chemical, ionic, and biological sensing in the next generation. One example is the use of FETs for label-free biosensing via electrostatic interactions between carriers in semiconductor materials and target analyte, which is specifically recognized on a gate dielectric. Nowadays, field-effect devices based on organic materials (e.g., conducting polymers) are developed with features on flexibility, lightness, biocompatibility, low cost, and mass productivity. An understanding of both the basics and applications is essential for further development. Accordingly, this Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on novel developments of FET or field effect-based sensors in terms of design, modeling, micro-/nanoscale manufacturing, transducing mechanisms, sensing modality, materials, interface, and real-world applications. Related topics of FET included in the keywords below are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Tatsuro Goda
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • bioelectronics
  • chemical/biological sensing
  • conducting polymers
  • diagnostics
  • environmental monitoring
  • healthcare
  • ion sensing
  • optoelectronics
  • real-world applications
  • wearable/ingestible/implantable sensing
  • wireless/remote sensing

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3790 KiB  
Article
Capacitive Field-Effect Biosensor Studying Adsorption of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Particles
by Melanie Jablonski, Arshak Poghossian, Robin Severins, Michael Keusgen, Christina Wege and Michael J. Schöning
Micromachines 2021, 12(1), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12010057 - 6 Jan 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3867
Abstract
Plant virus-like particles, and in particular, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) particles, are increasingly being used in nano- and biotechnology as well as for biochemical sensing purposes as nanoscaffolds for the high-density immobilization of receptor molecules. The sensitive parameters of TMV-assisted biosensors depend, among [...] Read more.
Plant virus-like particles, and in particular, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) particles, are increasingly being used in nano- and biotechnology as well as for biochemical sensing purposes as nanoscaffolds for the high-density immobilization of receptor molecules. The sensitive parameters of TMV-assisted biosensors depend, among others, on the density of adsorbed TMV particles on the sensor surface, which is affected by both the adsorption conditions and surface properties of the sensor. In this work, Ta2O5-gate field-effect capacitive sensors have been applied for the label-free electrical detection of TMV adsorption. The impact of the TMV concentration on both the sensor signal and the density of TMV particles adsorbed onto the Ta2O5-gate surface has been studied systematically by means of field-effect and scanning electron microscopy methods. In addition, the surface density of TMV particles loaded under different incubation times has been investigated. Finally, the field-effect sensor also demonstrates the label-free detection of penicillinase immobilization as model bioreceptor on TMV particles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue FET and Field Effect-Based Sensors)
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12 pages, 3723 KiB  
Article
Near-Infrared Organic Phototransistors with Polymeric Channel/Dielectric/Sensing Triple Layers
by Taehoon Kim, Chulyeon Lee and Youngkyoo Kim
Micromachines 2020, 11(12), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11121061 - 30 Nov 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2658
Abstract
A new type of near-infrared (NIR)-sensing organic phototransistor (OPTR) was designed and fabricated by employing a channel/dielectric/sensing (CDS) triple layer structure. The CDS structures were prepared by inserting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) dielectric layers (DLs) between poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) channel layers and poly[{2,5-bis-(2-octyldodecyl)-3,6-bis-(thien-2-yl)-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-diyl}-co-{2,2′-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)-5,5′-diyl}] (PODTPPD-BT) top [...] Read more.
A new type of near-infrared (NIR)-sensing organic phototransistor (OPTR) was designed and fabricated by employing a channel/dielectric/sensing (CDS) triple layer structure. The CDS structures were prepared by inserting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) dielectric layers (DLs) between poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) channel layers and poly[{2,5-bis-(2-octyldodecyl)-3,6-bis-(thien-2-yl)-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-diyl}-co-{2,2′-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)-5,5′-diyl}] (PODTPPD-BT) top sensing layers. Two different thicknesses of PMMA DLs (20 nm and 50 nm) were applied to understand the effect of DL thickness on the sensing performance of devices. Results showed that the NIR-OPTRs with the CDS structures were operated in a typical n-channel mode with a hole mobility of ca. 0.7~3.2 × 10−4 cm2/Vs in the dark and delivered gradually increased photocurrents upon illumination with an NIR light (905 nm). As the NIR light intensity increased, the threshold voltage was noticeably shifted, and the resulting transfer curves showed a saturation tendency in terms of curve shape. The operation of the NIR-OPTRs with the CDS structures was explained by the sensing mechanism that the excitons generated in the PODTPPD-BT top sensing layers could induce charges (holes) in the P3HT channel layers via the PMMA DLs. The optically modulated and reflected NIR light could be successfully detected by the present NIR-OPTRs with the CDS structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue FET and Field Effect-Based Sensors)
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9 pages, 2124 KiB  
Article
Printed Soft Sensor with Passivation Layers for the Detection of Object Slippage by a Robotic Gripper
by Reo Miura, Tomohito Sekine, Yi-Fei Wang, Jinseo Hong, Yushi Watanabe, Keita Ito, Yoshinori Shouji, Yasunori Takeda, Daisuke Kumaki, Fabrice Domingues Dos Santos, Atsushi Miyabo and Shizuo Tokito
Micromachines 2020, 11(10), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11100927 - 8 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3768
Abstract
Tactile sensing, particularly the detection of object slippage, is required for skillful object handling by robotic grippers. The real-time measurement and identification of the dynamic shear forces that result from slippage events are crucial for slip detection and effective object interaction. In this [...] Read more.
Tactile sensing, particularly the detection of object slippage, is required for skillful object handling by robotic grippers. The real-time measurement and identification of the dynamic shear forces that result from slippage events are crucial for slip detection and effective object interaction. In this study, a ferroelectric polymer-based printed soft sensor for object slippage detection was developed and fabricated by screen printing. The proposed sensor demonstrated a sensitivity of 8.2 μC·cm−2 and was responsive to shear forces applied in both the parallel and perpendicular directions. An amplifier circuit, based on a printed organic thin-film transistor, was applied and achieved a high sensitivity of 0.1 cm2/V·s. Therefore, this study experimentally demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed printable high-sensitivity tactile sensor, which could serve as part of a wearable robotic e-skin. The sensor could facilitate the production of a system to detect and prevent the slippage of objects from robotic grippers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue FET and Field Effect-Based Sensors)
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18 pages, 3455 KiB  
Article
Water-Gated Transistor Using Ion Exchange Resin for Potentiometric Fluoride Sensing
by Zahrah Alqahtani, Nawal Alghamdi, Thomas J. Robshaw, Robert Dawson, Mark D. Ogden, Alastair Buckely and Martin Grell
Micromachines 2020, 11(10), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11100923 - 5 Oct 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3147
Abstract
We introduce fluoride-selective anion exchange resin sorbents as sensitisers into membranes for water-gated field effect transistors (WGTFTs). Sorbents were prepared via metal (La or Al)-loading of a commercial macroporous aminophosphonic acid resin, PurometTM MTS9501, and were filled into a plasticised poly(vinyl chloride) [...] Read more.
We introduce fluoride-selective anion exchange resin sorbents as sensitisers into membranes for water-gated field effect transistors (WGTFTs). Sorbents were prepared via metal (La or Al)-loading of a commercial macroporous aminophosphonic acid resin, PurometTM MTS9501, and were filled into a plasticised poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) phase transfer membrane. We found a potentiometric response (membrane potential leading to WGTFT threshold shift) to fluoride following a Langmuir–Freundlich (LF) adsorption isotherm with saturated membrane potential up to ~480 mV, extremely low characteristic concentration c1/2 = 1/K, and picomolar limit of detection (LoD), even though ion exchange did not build up charge on the resin. La-loading gave a superior response compared to Al-loading. Membrane potential characteristics were distinctly different from charge accumulating sensitisers (e.g., organic macrocycles) but similar to the Cs+ (cation) selective ion-exchanging zeolite mineral ‘mordenite’. We propose a mechanism for the observed threshold shift and investigate interference from co-solutes. Strong interference from carbonate was brought under control by ‘diluting’ metal loading in the resin. This work sets a template for future studies using an entirely new ‘family’ of sensitisers in applications where very low limit of detection is essential such as for ions of arsenic, mercury, copper, palladium, and gold. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue FET and Field Effect-Based Sensors)
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11 pages, 1656 KiB  
Article
Label-Free Monitoring of Histone Acetylation Using Aptamer-Functionalized Field-Effect Transistor and Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors
by Tatsuro Goda and Yuji Miyahara
Micromachines 2020, 11(9), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11090820 - 29 Aug 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5187
Abstract
Chemical and enzymatic modifications of amino acid residues in protein after translation contain rich information about physiological conditions and diseases. Histone acetylation/deacetylation is the essential post-translational modification by regulating gene transcription. Such qualitative changes of biomacromolecules need to be detected in point-of-care systems [...] Read more.
Chemical and enzymatic modifications of amino acid residues in protein after translation contain rich information about physiological conditions and diseases. Histone acetylation/deacetylation is the essential post-translational modification by regulating gene transcription. Such qualitative changes of biomacromolecules need to be detected in point-of-care systems for an early and accurate diagnosis. However, there is no technique to aid this issue. Previously, we have applied an aptamer-functionalized field-effect transistor (FET) to the specific protein biosensing. Quantitative changes of target protein in a physiological solution have been determined by detecting innate charges of captured protein at the gate-solution interface. Moreover, we have succeeded in developing an integrated system of FET and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors for determining the adsorbed mass and charge, simultaneously or in parallel. Prompted by this, in this study, we developed a new label-free method for detecting histone acetylation using FET and QCM sensors. The loss of positive charge of lysine residue by chemically induced acetylation of histone subunits (H3 and H4) was successfully detected by potentiometric signals using anti-histone aptamer-functionalized FET. The adsorbed mass was determined by the same anti-histone aptamer-functionalized QCM. From these results, the degree of acetylation was correlated to the charge-to-mass ratio of histone subunits. The histone required for the detection was below 100 nM, owing to the high sensitivity of aptamer-functionalized FET and QCM sensors. These findings will guide us to a new way of measuring post-translational modification of protein in a decentralized manner for an early and accurate diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue FET and Field Effect-Based Sensors)
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