An unprecedented high sensitive sensing of neurotransmitter dopamine at fM level was demonstrated using a poly-crystalline silicon nanowire field-effect transistor (poly-SiNW FET) fabricated by employing a simple and low-cost poly-Si sidewall spacer technique, which was compatible with current commercial semiconductor processes for large-scale standard manufacture.
In this work we report the observation and characterization of a hysteresis phenomenon in the transfer characteristics of n-channel polycrystalline silicon ͑poly-Si͒ thin-film transistors ͑TFTs͒. Such phenomenon is observed in devices with fully depleted channel and not treated with hydrogen-related anneal. The origin of the hysteresis is identified to be related to the electron trapping and detrapping processes associated with the deep-level traps in the grain boundaries of the poly-Si channel.
Ferriprotoporphyrin IX chloride (haemin)-functionalized Al-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) is used for nitric oxide (NO) sensing at room temperature. The devices show high selectivity to NO against CO2 and O2. There is no such selectivity without haemin. Porous ZnO film made by a polystyrene sphere template is used to provide a high surface area. In comparison with non-porous ZnO film with low surface area, both the sensitivity and the response speed of the sensor made by porous ZnO are clearly improved. NO concentration down to 1 ppm can be detected. The response time is 20 s. The sensor is reversible after purging with pure nitrogen for about 100 s. Such a device is able to detect real-time variation of NO which is a vital physiological signalling molecule.
A NO sensing tip is made by inserting two parallel optical fibers inside a poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PolyHEMA) hydrogel waveguide mixed with the probe molecule 1, 2-Diaminoanthraquinone (DAQ). There is a length difference of 1 mm between the two fibers, and the light has to propagate through the difference from the short fiber to the long fiber. The total cross section area of the active hydrogel waveguide embedded with the fibers is only 3mm x 1.2 mm. For practical use the tip is housed in a needle for mechanical protection and the sensing tip is able to detect aqueous NO concentration around 1 μM with time resolution about 5 minutes. Such a sensing tip can be used to monitor the medical conditions inside the brain after a stroke or a brain injury.
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