ZnS/silica nanocable field effect transistors as biological and chemical nanosensors

Compound semiconductor/isolator (ZnS/silica) core/shell nanocables have been used to fabricate single nanowire-based field effect transistors. Using the surface-adsorbed charged molecules as the gate, the nanocable-based devices show potential for label-free, real-time, and sensitive detection of biological species. After chemical modification, amine- and oxide-functionalized nanocables exhibit linear pH-dependent conductance, which could be elucidated in terms of the changes of surface charge during protonation and deprotonation. Selective biological recognition of nanocable sensors has been demonstrated using biotinylation.