Abstract
This study introduces and simulates a Gate-All-Around Nanowire Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (GAA-NW-TFET) biosensor for biomolecule detection. The proposed silicon-based device employs a cluster of charge probes to identify the target biomolecule. The biomolecules, modeled as charged particles within the electrolyte layer positioned on top of the insulating layer, constitute the focus of our investigation. The central aspect of our study involves evaluating how the spatial arrangement of these target biomolecules affects the biosensor's sensitivity. Our analysis is conducted using Silvaco ATLAS TCAD. The simulation result shows an impressive Ion/Ioff sensitivity factor of up to 2.95 × 1010 for the GAA-NW-TFET structure, equipped with a 10-probe array. This notable sensitivity factor indicates the biosensor's capability to detect the target biomolecule precisely. Moreover, our methodology considers the non-uniform distribution of ionic charges at the interface between the electrolyte and the insulator to improve the sensitivity assessment. Additionally, we explored the influence of the electrolyte's pH on the biosensor's sensitivity, considering the practical importance of pH variations in real-world scenarios.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Department of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran for providing access of the facilities.
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Andisheh Ghomi and Majid Shalchian jointly conceived the idea, developed the theoretical framework, conducted the computational analysis, discussed the results, and made significant contributions to the final manuscript. All named authors have read and approved the manuscript, and there are no additional individuals who meet the criteria for authorship but are not listed. The order of authors in the manuscript has been agreed upon and approved by all of us.
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Ghomi, A., Shalchian, M. Simulation of GAA-NW-TFET Biosensor with Cluster Charge Probes for Target Biomolecule Detection. Silicon 16, 397–405 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02676-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02676-0