Multiscale real time and high sensitivity ion detection with complementary organic electrochemical transistors...

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronics
• Chemical Sensing
• Materials Science

Background:

• Ions are crucial biological regulators in animals and plants.
• Multiscale ion detection (concentration and small variations) is vital for health monitoring but poses a challenge for existing technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel approach for multiscale, real-time, and high-sensitivity ion detection.
• To overcome the limitations of current ion sensing methods.

Main Methods:

• Utilized complementary organic electrochemical transistors as amplifiers.
• Integrated selective ion-to-electron transduction and local signal amplification within a single device.

Main Results:

• Achieved a sensitivity exceeding 2300 mV V^-1 dec^-1, surpassing the fundamental limit.
• Demonstrated ion detection across five orders of magnitude.
• Enabled real-time monitoring of variations two orders of magnitude lower than the detected concentration.

Conclusions:

• The developed ion-sensing amplifier offers multiscale real-time and high-sensitivity ion detection.
• The approach is versatile, applicable to various transistor technologies.
• Opens new avenues for multifunctional enhanced bioelectronics.