Ionophore-containing siloprene membranes: direct comparison between conventional ion-selective electrodes and silicon nanowire-based field-effect transistors

Anal Chem. 2015 Jan 20;87(2):1173-9. doi: 10.1021/ac504500s. Epub 2014 Dec 23.

Abstract

Siloprene-based, ion-selective membranes (ISMs) were drop-casted onto a field-effect transistor device that consisted of a single-chip array of top-down prepared silicon nanowires (SiNWs). Within one array, two sets of SiNWs were covered with ISMs, each containing two different ionophores, allowing the simultaneous sensing of K and Na ions using a flow cell. It is shown that both ions can be effectively detected in the same solution over a wide concentration range from 10(-4) to 10(-1) M without interference. The ISMs were also analyzed in a conventional ISE configuration, allowing a direct comparison. While the responses for K(+) were similar for both sensor configurations, remarkably, the Na(+) response of the ISM-covered SiNW device was found to be higher than the one of the ISE configuration. The addition of a Na(+) buffering hydrogel layer between the SiO2 of the SiNW and the ISM reduced the response, showing the importance of keeping the boundary potential at the SiO2/ISM interface constant. The responses of the siloprene-covered SiNW devices were found to be stable over a period of at least 6 weeks, showing their potential as a multichannel sensor device.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Ion-Selective Electrodes*
  • Ionophores / chemistry*
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nanowires / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polyvinyl Chloride / chemistry
  • Potassium / chemistry
  • Potassium / metabolism
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry
  • Sodium / chemistry
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Transistors, Electronic*

Substances

  • Ionophores
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polymers
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Polyvinyl Chloride
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Silicon