Electrolyte-gated transistors for detection of molecules

A system for detecting a molecule having a target chemical composition, the system comprising:

• a semiconductor;
• an ionic conducting electronic insulator coupled to the semiconductor;
• a floating gate electrode comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being coupled to the semiconductor via the ionic conducting electronic insulator;
• an aqueous buffer;
• a primary gate electrode coupled to the second portion of the floating gate electrode via the aqueous buffer;
• and
• one or more circuits configured to measure an electrical property based on a voltage change over the ionic conducting electronic insulator, and output an indication of the electrical property.

A method for detecting a molecule comprising a target chemical composition, the method comprising:

• applying a voltage to a primary gate electrode of a device, the device comprising:
• a source electrode and a drain electrode, the source electrode and the drain electrode being coupled to a semiconductor;
• an ionic conducting electronic insulator coupled to the semiconductor;
• a floating gate electrode comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being coupled to the semiconductor via the ionic conducting electronic insulator;
• and
• an aqueous buffer, wherein the primary gate electrode is coupled to the second portion of the floating gate electrode via the aqueous buffer;
• measuring an electrical property at the drain electrode;
• determining, based on the measured electrical property, whether the target chemical composition of the molecule is present within the aqueous buffer;
• and
• outputting an indication of the determination.