We measure silane density and Sulfo-EMCS cross-linker coupling efficiency on aminosilane films by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. We then characterize DNA immobilization and hybridization on these films by (32)P-radiometry. We find that the silane film structure controls the efficiency of the subsequent steps toward DNA hybridization. A self-limited silane monolayer produced from 3-aminopropyldimethylethoxysilane (APDMES) provides a silane surface density of ~3 nm(-2). Thin (1 h deposition) and thick (19 h deposition) multilayer films are generated from 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), resulting in surfaces with increased roughness compared to the APDMES monolayer. Increased silane surface density is estimated for the 19 h APTES film, due to a ∼32% increase in surface area compared to the APDMES monolayer. High cross-linker coupling efficiencies are measured for all three silane films. DNA immobilization densities are similar for the APDMES monolayer and 1 h APTES. However, the DNA immobilization density is double for the 19 h APTES, suggesting that increased surface area allows for a higher probe attachment. The APDMES monolayer has the lowest DNA target density and hybridization efficiency. This is attributed to the steric hindrance as the random packing limit is approached for DNA double helices (dsDNA, diameter ≥ 2 nm) on a plane. The heterogeneity and roughness of the APTES films reduce this steric hindrance and allow for tighter packing of DNA double helices, resulting in higher hybridization densities and efficiencies. The low steric hindrance of the thin, one to two layer APTES film provides the highest hybridization efficiency of nearly 88%, with 0.21 dsDNA/nm(2). The XPS data also reveal water on the cross-linker-treated surface that is implicated in device aging.
We have investigated the effects of fluorine doping and deposition temperature on CdO grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Fluorine doping increases the carrier concentration of the films by about one order of magnitude at a deposition temperature of 300°C. The increased carrier concentration increases the optical bandgap from 2.4 eV to 2.85 eV. On the other hand, the higher deposition temperatures enabled by fluorine doping improve the crystal structure of the films. Therefore a higher mobility has been reached. The polycrystalline thin film CdO deposited at 450°C has the Hall mobility of 262 cm2/V-s and a carrier concentration of 3.8×1019/cm3.
In this paper, we have studied the effect of high-resistance SnO 2 buffer layers, deposited by low-pressure chemical-vapor deposition, on CdS/CdTe device performance. Our results indicate that when CdS/CdTe devices have a very thin layer of CdS or no CdS at all, the i-SnO 2 buffer layer helps to increase device efficiency. When the CdS layer is thicker than 600Å, the device performance is dominated by CdS thickness, not the i-SnO 2 layer. If a very thin CdS layer is to be used to enhance device performance, we conclude that a better SnO 2 buffer layer is needed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.