New article on forming monolayers on silicon nanowires

Masood Nasir’s research on forming alkyl monolayers on silicon nanowires has recently been published. The article titled: All-(111) Surface Silicon Nanowires: Selective Functionalization for Biosensing Applications, describes the utilization of selective functionalization of carbon-silicon alkyl and alkenyl monolayers covalently linked to all-(111) surface silicon nanowire (Si-NW) biosensors. Terminal amine groups on the functional monolayer surfaces were used for conjugation of biotin n-hydroxysuccinimide ester. The selective functionalization is demonstrated by contact angle, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high resolution scanning electron microscopy of 5-nm diameter thiolated Au nanoparticles linked with streptavidin and conjugated to the biotinylated all-(111) surface Si-NWs. Electrical measurements of monolayer passivated Si-NWs show improved device behavior and performance. Furthermore, an analytical model is presented to demonstrate the improvement in detection sensitivity of the alkyl and alkenyl passivated all-(111) Si-NW biosensors compared to conventional nanowire biosensor geometries and silicon dioxide passivation layers as well as interface design and electrical biasing guidelines for depletion-mode sensors.

The paper appears in the ACS journal Applied Materials and Interfaces: 10.1021/am100922e

For more information contact: Edwin Carlen: e.t.carlen@utwente.nl