Table of Contents

Abstract: A field-effect based capacitive EIS (electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor) sensor with a p-Si-SiO2-Ta2O5 structure has been successfully integrated into a commercial FIA (flow-injection analysis) system and system performances have been proven and optimised for pH and penicillin detection. A flow-through cell was designed taking into account the requirement of a variable internal volume (from 12 μl up to 48 μl) as well as an easy replacement of the EIS sensor. FIA parameters (sample volume, flow rate, distance between the injection valve and the EIS sensor) have been optimised in terms of high sensitivity and reproducibility as well as a minimum dispersion of the injected sample zone. An acceptable compromise between different FIA parameters has been found. For the cell design used in this study, best results have been achieved with a flow rate of 1.4 ml/min, distance between the injection valve and the EIS sensor of 6.5 cm, probe volume of 0.75 ml, cell internal volume of 12 μl. A sample throughput of at least 15 samples/h was typically obtained.

Abstract: The gas-sensing behaviour based on a dynamic measurement method of a single SnO₂ gas sensor was investigated by comparison with the static measurement. The influencing factors of nonlinear response such as modulation temperature, duty ratio, heating waveform (rectangular, sinusoidal, saw-tooth, pulse, etc.) were also studied. Experimental data showed that temperature was the most essential factor because the changes of frequency and heating waveform could result in the changes of temperature essentially.

Abstract: In order to develop a robust biosensor based on quartz crystal microbalance technique for antigen detection, a control of the steps of the surface functionalization has been performed by impedance spectroscopy. The gold electrode is functionalized with the self-assembled monolayer technique. The high insulating properties of the acidic thiol monolayer has been characterized with cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The modified surface is activated with N-hydroxysuccinimide(NHS) and 1-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-3-ethylcarbodimide hydrochloride(EDC) cross-linker for antibody coupling. The non-specific sites are blocked with bovin serum albumine molecules. Different concentrations of antigen can be detected with a good reversibility in real time with the quartz crystal microbalance.