Ultra-Sensitive Electrometers for Nano-Fluidics

University Of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract Nanofluidics is a promising area where the fields of Chemistry, Biology, and Engineering all play a role. As the name implies, nanofluidics involves nano-scale channels used to transport fluids. By scaling down the size of the channels only a tiny amount of fluid is required to fill them, an important quality when dealing with expensive reagents. Scaled channels also enable concepts such as ?Lab on a Chip?, where nano channels transport reactants and analytes to a number of pico-liter sized reaction chambers so that a number of tests can be carried out quickly in a very small package. This proposal presents a methodology to interface electronics to nanofluidics. The electronics portion will provide ultra-sensitive electrometers placed in one wall of the nanochannel. An electrometer senses charge, so it can be used to detect charge change at the wall of the nanochannel or in the fluid near the wall. The surface of the electrometer could be functionalized to provide specific binding of reaction products, and the electrometer signal would then represent the density of the bound product. The goal is to achieve single ion detection in the channel. The intellectual merit of this proposal is that it addresses the lack of a suitable electrical transducing element. Most fluidic experiments done today use optical transduction based on fluorescence. Electrical transduction would enable a simple interface to standard electronics, leading to reduction in system size and cost. Singleelectron transistor electrometers are the most sensitive known, but have yet to be applied to nanofluidics. The proposed research is transformative in a number of ways. It will develop a process that should be scalable and manufacturable, and it will extend CMP processing into nanoscale dimensions. The integration of room temperature electrometers with nanofluidic channels will enable a number of applications, perhaps even the rapid sequencing of DNA. A key feature is the easy integration of these devices with CMOS will form an excellent bridge between nanoelectronics and the enormous base of CMOS infrastructure. The broader impact of the proposed project will be in both scientific and educational impact. The scientific impact will come from the research developing the theory and devices for silicon-based QCA. This project will also make a significant outreach to middle school students in the South Bend, Indiana area. South Bend public schools have a diverse student population with a large number of students from groups underrepresented in the areas of science and technology. The outreach program proposed will target middle school students through classroom activities involving faculty and graduate students, and field trips to bring students to the Notre Dame labs. Middle school aged children are an excellent group for outreach since they are advanced enough to understand science, but are still making choices about their areas of interests. The outreach will benefit the middle schoolers by giving them a first-hand taste of science in both the classroom and lab.