Systems and process for forming carbon nanotube sensors

• US 9,601,697 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgetown University
• Original Assignee: Georgetown University
• Inventors: Paranjape, Makarand, Zhou, Jianyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Karimy, Timor
• Application Number:
  US15/058,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20160181539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 257/29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4145 specially adapted for biomolecules, e.g. gate electrode with immobilised receptors
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/481 characterised by the gate conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/484 characterised by the channel regions
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/221 Carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A system for forming a functionalized sensor for sensing a molecule of interest includes at least one single or multi-wall carbon nanotube having a first and a second electrode in contact therewith on a substrate; a third electrode including a decorating material on the substrate a predetermined distance from the at least one single or multi-wall carbon nanotube having a first and a second electrode in contact therewith, wherein the decorating material has a bonding affinity for bioreceptors that react with the molecule of interest; and wherein applying a voltage to the third electrode causes the decorating material to form nanoparticles of the decorating material on the at least one single or multi-wall carbon nanotube.

Claims

1. A system for forming a functionalized sensor for sensing a molecule of interest comprising:

at least one carbon nanotube having a first and a second electrode in contact therewith on a substrate;

a third electrode including a decorating material on the substrate a predetermined distance from the at least one carbon nanotube having a first and a second electrode in contact therewith, wherein the decorating material has a bonding affinity for bioreceptors that react with the molecule of interest;

wherein a voltage is applied to the third electrode, causing the decorating material to form nanoparticles of the decorating material on the at least one carbon nanotube.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon nanotube is selected from the group consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the third electrode is formed of a bilayer of Cr and Au.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the Cr is approximately 25 Å

and the Au is approximately 800 Å and

is approximately 5 μ

m wide.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the third electrode is formed of a bilayer of Ti and Au.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the decorating material is Au.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately 5-20 μ

m from the first and second electrodes.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein a size and density of the nanoparticles is related to the applied voltage.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is passivated to reduce adsorption of the bioreceptors.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the substrate includes an assembled monolayer (SAM) having a head group with an affinity for the substrate and a tail having protein resistivity.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the substrate is SiO₂ and the SAM is methoxy-terminated PEG 2000.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the bioreceptors are thiol-terminated glucose oxidase and the molecule of interest is glucose.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon nanotube is a network of carbon nanotubes.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the network of carbon nanotubes includes carbon nanotubes selected from the group consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes.