Effects of Water and Different Solutes on Carbon-Nanotube Low-Voltage Field-Effect Transistors

Abstract

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (swCNTs) are a promising class of materials for emerging applications. In particular, they are demonstrated to possess excellent biosensing capabilities, and are poised to address existing challenges in sensor reliability, sensitivity, and selectivity. This work focuses on swCNT field-effect transistors (FETs) employing rubbery double-layer capacitive dielectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene). These devices exhibit small device-to-device variation as well as high current output at low voltages (<0.5 V), making them compatible with most physiological liquids. Using this platform, the swCNT devices are directly exposed to aqueous solutions containing different solutes to characterize their effects on FET current-voltage (FET I-V) characteristics. Clear deviation from ideal characteristics is observed when swCNTs are directly contacted by water. Such changes are attributed to strong interactions between water molecules and sp² -hybridized carbon structures. Selective response to Hg²⁺ is discussed along with reversible pH effect using two distinct device geometries. Additionally, the influence of aqueous ammonium/ammonia in direct contact with the swCNTs is investigated. Understanding the FET I-V characteristics of low-voltage swCNT FETs may provide insights for future development of stable, reliable, and selective biosensor systems.

Keywords: biosensors; low-voltage field-effect transistors; response mechanisms; single-walled carbon nanotubes; water and electrolyte solutions.