Dielectric-Modulated Impact-Ionization MOS Transistor as a Label-Free Biosensor

• Published in: IEEE electron device letters Vol. 34; no. 12; pp. 1575 - 1577
• Main Authors: Kannan, N., Kumar, M. Jagadesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.12.2013; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biomolecule; Biosensors; Biotechnology; charge; Compound structure devices; dielectric-modulated field effect transistor (DMFET); Diodes; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Field effect transistors; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Impact ionization; impact ionization MOS (I-MOS); Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Molecular biophysics; nanogap; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Sensitivity; sensor; Transistors; Various methods and equipments; charge; Circuit design; Depletion layer; Measurement sensor; MOS structure; Spacing; Field effect transistor; Biomolecule; impact ionization MOS (I-MOS); High sensitivity; Complementary MOS technology; Biosensor; nanogap; Impact ionization; sensor; p i n diode; dielectric-modulated field effect transistor (DMFET); Computer aided design
• ISSN: 0741-3106; 1558-0563
• DOI: 10.1109/LED.2013.2283858

In this letter, we propose a dielectric-modulated impact-ionization MOS (DIMOS) transistor-based sensor for application in label-free detection of biomolecules. Numerous reports exist on the experimental demonstration of nanogap-embedded field effect transistor-based biosensors, but an impact-ionization MOS (I-MOS)-based biosensor has not been reported previously. The concept of a dielectric-modulated I-MOS-based biosensor is presented in this letter based on technology computer-aided design simulation study. The results show a high sensitivity to the presence of biomolecules even at small channel lengths. In addition, a low variability of the sensitivity to the charges on the biomolecule is observed. The high sensitivity, dominance of dielectric-modulation effects, and operation at even small channel lengths make the DIMOS biosensor a promising alternative for CMOS-based sensor applications.