|
pp. 775-784
S&M4347 Research paper https://doi.org/10.18494/SAM5715 Published: February 12, 2026 Effects of Thermal Treatment on the Sensitivity of Polycrystalline Silicon Nanowire FET Biosensors [PDF] Yu-Liang Hsu, Yuan-Nan Tsai, Chu-En Lin, Nitthita Chirdchoo, I-Nan Chang, and Chi-Chang Wu (Received April 30, 2025; Accepted August 27, 2025) Keywords: nanowire, nanowire FET, thermal treatment, pH sensing
In this study, we developed polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) nanowires by a sidewall spacer technique and employed them to fabricate nanowire field-effect transistor (NWFET) devices for biomedical sensing applications. The impact of post-fabrication thermal treatments on the electrical performance of the poly-Si NWFET biosensors was systematically investigated. Among the tested conditions, the devices treated at 400 °C in vacuum exhibited significantly enhanced electrical characteristics. These optimized biosensors were then used for solution pH detection, demonstrating high sensitivity and a clear linear correlation between drain current and pH. Furthermore, real-time pH sensing experiments confirmed the biosensors’ capability to respond rapidly and accurately to changes in pH, highlighting both their sensitivity and response speed. Overall, the developed poly-Si NWFET biosensors show strong potential for advancing medical diagnostics by enabling early disease detection and supporting personalized healthcare strategies.
Corresponding author: Chi-Chang Wu![]() ![]() This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Cite this article Yu-Liang Hsu, Yuan-Nan Tsai, Chu-En Lin, Nitthita Chirdchoo, I-Nan Chang, and Chi-Chang Wu, Effects of Thermal Treatment on the Sensitivity of Polycrystalline Silicon Nanowire FET Biosensors, Sens. Mater., Vol. 38, No. 2, 2026, p. 775-784. |