The Analysis of Characteristics in Dry and Wet Environments of Silicon Nanowire-Biosensor

Abstract

Our study investigates differences in sensitivity of dry and wet environment in the field of biosensing experiment in detail and depth. The sensitivity of biosensing varies by means of surrounding conditions of silicon nanowire field effect transistor (SiNW FET). By examining charged polymer reaction in the silicon nanowire transistor (SiNW), we have discovered that the threshold voltage (V-T) shift and change of subthreshold slope (SS) in wet environment are smaller than that of the air. Furthermore, we analyzed the sensitivity through modifying electrolyte concentration in the wet condition, and confirmed that V-T shift increases in low concentration condition of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) due to the Debye length. We believe that the results we have found in this study would be the cornerstone in contributing to advanced biosensing experiment in the future.