As
critical factors affecting the sensing performance of silicon
nanowire (SiNW) biosensors, the structure, functional interface, and
detection target were analyzed and designed to improve sensing performance.
For an improved understanding of the dependence of sensor structure
on sensitivity, a simple theoretical analysis was proposed to predict
the sensitivity of biosensors with different SiNW types, widths, and
doping concentrations. Based on the theoretical analysis, a biosensor
integrating optimized critical factors was designed and fabricated.
Optimizations focusing on the following aspects are considered: (1)
employing n-type SiNW and controlling the impurity doping concentration
of SiNW at approximately 2 × 1016–6 ×
1016 atoms/cm3 to obtain a suitable charge density,
(2) minimizing the SiNW width to 16.0 nm to increase the surface area-to-volume
ratio, (3) using a native oxide layer on SiNW as a gate insulator
to transport the captured charge molecules closer to the SiNW surface,
(4) modifying the SiNW surface by 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid coupling
to form a high-density self-assembled monolayer for enhancing the
stability bound molecules, and (5) functionalizing the SiNW with ovalbumin
molecules for specifically capturing the target immunoglobulin G (IgG)
molecules. The sensing performance was evaluated by detecting IgG
with concentrations ranging from 6 aM to 600 nM and control experiments.
The SiNW biosensor revealed ultrahigh sensitivity and specific detection
of target IgG with a measured limit of detection of 6 aM. The integration
of the critical SiNW biosensor factors provides a significant possibility
of a rapid and ultrasensitive diagnosis of diseases at their early
stages.