Ultrathin Metal Oxide Biosensors for Wearable Glucose and pH Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable biosensors face challenges in achieving conformality and reproducibility on complex surfaces, such as biological tissues and skin, while maintaining sensitivity and durability, especially for detecting targets like glucose levels and pH, which requires advanced nanomaterials and processing techniques.
Innovation Solution
The development of ultrathin metal oxide semiconductor films, specifically indium oxide (In2O3) films with a thickness of around 3.5 nm, fabricated using a solution-processing method involving spin-coating and low-temperature annealing, which allows for conformal contact and high sensitivity, enabling non-invasive monitoring of glucose and pH levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If nanomaterials and complex processing techniques are used to achieve high sensitivity and conformality, then detection sensitivity and conformal contact are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the processing parameters by using solution-processing methods with low-temperature annealing instead of complex nanomaterial fabrication. This achieves high sensitivity and conformal contact through controlled deposition parameters and thermal treatment, avoiding the need for complex nanomaterial processing while maintaining detection performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of conformal contact and sensitivity from complex nanomaterial structures and implements it through simpler metal oxide semiconductor films. By removing the need for complex nanomaterial fabrication while retaining the key performance attributes, the device complexity is reduced while maintaining detection capability
2Shape
If thin films are used to achieve conformal contact on complex surfaces, then conformality is improved, but mechanical stability and durability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite metal oxide semiconductor films that combine multiple oxide materials with complementary properties. This composite structure provides both the thin-film conformality needed for complex surfaces and the enhanced mechanical stability required for durability, resolving the contradiction between conformal contact and mechanical strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs ultrathin metal oxide semiconductor films that inherently conform to complex surface geometries. These films are designed with appropriate thickness and composition to maintain mechanical stability while achieving complete conformal contact on irregular surfaces, balancing flexibility and structural integrity
3Ease of manufacture
If solution-processing methods are used to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but film uniformity and quality worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex physical vapor deposition or chemical vapor deposition systems with solution-processing methods. This substitution uses liquid precursor solutions that can be deposited by simple spin-coating or dip-coating, followed by low-temperature annealing, achieving uniform metal oxide semiconductor films with high manufacturing precision through chemical rather than mechanical processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metal nitrate precursor solutions as intermediaries that facilitate uniform film formation. These precursors decompose during low-temperature annealing to produce uniform metal oxide films, acting as a mediating substance that enables simple processing while ensuring high film quality and uniformity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The approach results in highly sensitive, conformal, and durable biosensors capable of detecting glucose and pH levels non-invasively, with improved adhesion and mechanical stability, suitable for wearable electronics and medical applications, and allows for mass production with roll-to-roll processing.
Implementation Method 1
annealing the layer of the precursor solution to provide the metal oxide semiconductor film
Implementation Method 2
annealing the layer of the precursor solution to provide the metal oxide semiconductor film
Implementation Method 3
depositing a layer of the precursor solution onto a surface of a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Electrochemical and bio sensors using metal oxide semiconductors and method of making the same are described herein. The sensor includes a gate electrode, a dielectric layer over the gate electrode, a channel layer over the dielectric layer, and source and drain electrodes formed on the channel layer to provide a field effect transistor structure. The channel layer is a metal oxide semiconductor film that has a substantially uniform thickness of at least 3 nm thick and less than 10 nm thick. The metal oxide semiconductor film is functionalized with molecules attached thereto that are open to make contact with a fluid for detection of at least one component or at least one physical or chemical property of the fluid.