Real-time detection of water contaminants

• US 10,281,464 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UWM Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: UWM Research Foundation
• Inventors: Chen, Junhong, Chang, Jingbo
• Primary Examiner(s): Forman, Betty J
• Application Number:
  US15/500,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20170234861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/10 Enterobacteria
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/689 for bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/245 Escherichia (G)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4145 specially adapted for biomolecules, e.g. gate electrode with immobilised receptors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4146 involving nanosized elements, e.g. nanotubes, nanowires
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1826 organic contamination in water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1886 using probes, e.g. submersible probes, buoys
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54346 Nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56916 Enterobacteria, e.g. shigella, salmonella, klebsiella, serratia
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/20 Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment

Abstract

Provided herein is a field-effect transistor based sensor for real-time detection of water contaminants and methods of use thereof.

Claims

1. A field-effect transistor sensor for detecting a target in an aqueous environment comprising:

a reduced graphene oxide layer coated with a passivation layer;

one or more gold nanoparticles in contact with the passivation layer; and

at least one probe bound to the one or more nanoparticles;

wherein the nanoparticles are discrete nanoparticles, and wherein the passivation layer is about 1 to about 4 nanometers thick.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the passivation layer is aluminum oxide.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the passivation layer is about 1 to about 3 nanometers thick.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the passivation layer is about 3nanometers thick.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the gold nanoparticles are distributed uniformly on the reduced graphene oxide layer.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the gold nanoparticles are about 3 to about 5 nanometers in size.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the gold nanoparticles are at least 5 nanometers apart.

8. The sensor claim 1, wherein more than one probe is bound to the one or more nanoparticles.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the more than one probes are different.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a target is a contaminant.

11. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a target is a water additive.

12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one probe detects a target selected from anions, cations, metals, viruses, bacteria, organic contaminants or a combination thereof.

13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein the bacteria are Giardia sp., Ligonella sp., or Escheria coli.

14. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is connected to a display.

15. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one probe detects a target that is a metal.

16. The sensor of claim 15, wherein the metal is selected from lead, arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, or mercury, or a combination thereof.

17. The sensor of claim 15, wherein the probe comprises thioglycolic acid (TGA) or an aptamer.

18. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the passivation layer is about 2 to about 4nanometers thick.

19. A method for detecting a target in an aqueous sample comprising:

a. contacting an aqueous sample with a sensor according to claim 1;

b. applying a current to the sensor; and

c. detecting a change in an electrical characteristic.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical characteristic is resistance.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein more than one target is detected in the sample using a single sensor with more than one probe.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the aqueous sample is from one selected from a group of a water distribution system and a wastewater treatment process.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the change in resistance is detected continuously.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the change in resistance is detected periodically by the sensor.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting the change in resistance to a display.