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The Performance of Commercial pH-Sensitive Ion-Selective Field Effect Transistors
Nandor Ziebart1, Alexander Gießel1, Thomas Walther1
1Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Technical University of Dresden, ZINT Campus, 01069, Dresden, Germany.
Chemistryopen
|September 24, 2025
Summary
This study compares commercial pH-sensitive ion-selective field effect transistors (ISFETs) for battery-powered devices. Strategies were developed to reduce ISFET power consumption by 98.8%.
Area of Science:
- Sensor Technology
- Electronics Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- pH-sensitive ion-selective field effect transistors (ISFETs) offer advantages like robustness and accuracy.
- High cost and continuous power demand limit ISFET integration into battery-powered systems.
- Developing low-power ISFET solutions is crucial for portable sensing applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the long-term performance of three commercial ISFET sensors.
- To investigate strategies for reducing the power consumption of ISFETs.
- To assess the suitability of ISFETs for battery-operated devices.
Main Methods:
- A novel evaluation process was developed to assess ISFETs' conditioning, linearity, accuracy, response times, and long-term stability.
- Three commercial ISFETs (Winsense, Microsens, Sentron) were directly compared.
- Power consumption reduction strategies, including operating condition adjustments and an On/Off protocol, were implemented and tested.
Main Results:
- All tested ISFETs exhibited performance limitations.
- Winsense ISFETs showed the highest slope (59.7 mV/pH).
- Microsens ISFETs demonstrated superior output precision (±0.01-0.03 pH).
- Sentron ISFETs provided the best stability under power-reducing conditions.
- Combined power-reduction strategies decreased ISFET power demand by 98.8%.
Conclusions:
- Commercial ISFETs vary in performance characteristics, with specific strengths in slope, precision, and stability.
- Effective power-saving strategies can significantly reduce ISFET energy requirements, enabling battery-powered applications.
- The selection of an ISFET should consider the specific application requirements regarding performance and power constraints.
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