Electronic device, especially chemical sensor, comprising a nanoparticle structure
AssigneeSony International (Europe) GmbH
InventorTobias Vossmeyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an electronic device comprising a nanoparticle structure and configured such that, when driven by a power source, a current path is defined through said nanoparticle structure, wherein the nanoparticle structure comprises a substrate and metal and/or semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are linked to each other and/or to the substrate by bifunctional or polyfunctional ligands. The invention especially relates to an electronic device in the form of a sensor for detecting one or more analytes in a liquid or a gas phase.
Claims21
A nanoparticle structure for use in an electronic device configured such that a current can be conducted through said nanoparticle structure, comprising:
- a) a substrate;
- b) nanoparticles connected to the substrate and to each other by one or more bifunctional or polyfunctional ligands;
- and
- c) cavities for diffusion of an analyte therein and formed from the voids created by the connection of the nanoparticles to each other, wherein the nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of a metal and a semiconductor;
- wherein the ligands connecting the nanoparticles to each other are different from the ligands connecting the nanoparticles to the substrate;
- and wherein said nanoparticle structure is adapted to be integrated in an integrated circuit with an amplifying element controlled by the current flowing through the nanoparticle structure.
A sensor having a nanoparticle structure for detecting one or more analytes in a liquid or gas phase and configured such that a current can be conducted through said nanoparticle structure, the nanoparticle structure comprising:
- a) a substrate;
- b) nanoparticles connected to the substrate and to each other by one or more bifunctional or polyfunctional ligands;
- c) cavities for diffusion of an analyte therein and formed from the voids created by the connection of the nanoparticles to each other;
- d) means for detecting the conductivity of said nanoparticles;
- and
- e) an amplifying element controlled by the current flowing through the nanoparticle structure, wherein the nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of a metal and a semiconductor;
- and wherein the ligands connecting the nanoparticles to each other are different from the ligands connecting the nanoparticles to the substrate.
A method for producing a nanoparticle structure for use in an electrical device which comprises said nanoparticle structure and is configured such that a current can be conducted through said nanoparticle structure, the nanoparticle structure comprising a substrate and metal and/or semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are linked to each other and/or to the substrate by bifunctional or polyfunctional ligands, wherein the ligands connecting the nanoparticles to each other are different from the ligands connecting the nanoparticles to the substrate, and wherein said nanoparticle structure is adapted to be integrated in an integrated circuit with an amplifying element controlled by the current flowing through the nanoparticle structure, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) linking a first layer of nanoparticles to a substrate by ligand molecules;
- b) linking bifunctional or polyfunctional ligands to said first layer of nanoparticles, and
- c) linking a further layer of nanoparticles to said bifunctional or polyfunctional ligands.
A sensor for detecting one or more analytes in a liquid or gas phase, comprising:
- a) a nanoparticle structure comprising a substrate and metal and/or semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are linked to each other and/or to the substrate by bifunctional or polyfunctional ligands;
- b) means for detecting the conductivity of said nanoparticle structure;
- and
- c) an amplifying element controlled by a current flowing through the nanoparticle structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.