Ultra-sensitive detection techniques
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsAli Afzali-Ardakani, Sudhir Gowda, Supratik Guha, Hendrik F. Hamann, Emanuel Tutuc
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Abstract
Techniques for ultra-sensitive detection are provided. In one aspect, a detection device is provided. The detection device comprises a source; a drain; a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain and suspended freely therebetween; and a gate in close proximity to the nanowire.
Claims19
A detection device comprising:
- a source;
- a drain;
- a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain and suspended freely therebetween;
- and
- a gate separated from the nanowire by a distance of up to about ten nanometers.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- at least one detection device comprising:
- a source;
- a drain;
- a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain and suspended freely therebetween;
- a gate in close proximity to the nanowire;
- and
- at least one frequency modulation demodulator in circuit with the at least one detection device, wherein the at least one frequency modulation demodulator is configured to detect a source-drain current modulation in the at least one detection device.
A mass detection device comprising:
- a source;
- a drain;
- a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain and suspended freely therebetween;
- and
- a gate separated from the nanowire by a distance of up to about ten nanometers, wherein the gate has a width that is less than a length of the nanowire suspended between the source and the drain, and wherein the nanowire is configured to actuate in response to a voltage being applied to the gate at a given frequency.
A molecular detection device comprising:
- a source;
- a drain;
- a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the nanowire is charge-sensitized;
- and
- a gate, at least a portion of which is separated from one or more of the source and the drain by a dielectric substrate, and wherein the gate is separated from the nanowire by a distance of up to about ten nanometers.
A method of operating a mass detection device comprising a source;
- a drain;
- a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain and suspended freely therebetween;
- and a gate separated from the nanowire by a distance of up to about ten nanometers, wherein the gate has a width that is less than a length of the nanowire suspended between the source and the drain, the method comprising the steps of:
- actuating the nanowire;
- and
- detecting mechanical resonance of the nanowire.
A method of operating a molecular detection device comprising a source;
- a drain;
- a nanowire comprising a semiconductor material having a first end clamped to the source and a second end clamped to the drain, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the nanowire is charge-sensitized;
- and a gate, at least a portion of which is separated from one or more of the source and the drain by a dielectric substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating free electrical charge in the nanowire, rendering the nanowire conductive;
- exposing the molecular detection device to an ambient containing at least one compound;
- and
- detecting reactions between the charge-sensitized surface of the nanowire and the compound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.