Effect of the Debye screening length on NW-FET sensors

摘要

Nanowire field-effect transistor (NW-FET) sensors detect unlabeled species by their intrinsic charge. When an analyte binds to the NW-FET surface, the electric field around the device is modified, permitting detection. However, for optimal performance, the effect of molecular charge screening, known as the Debye screening length (lambda_D), has to be understood. Mark Reed, Tarek Fahmy, and colleagues at Yale University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have described how lambda_D influences NW-FET sensors.