Highly stable bioelectronics based on wrapped SWCNT monolayers via dual click chemistry

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Bioelectronics

Background:

• Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer promise for bioelectronics but face challenges in film formation, adhesion, density, and electrical uniformity.
• Existing methods often yield multilayered or unstable SWCNT networks, leading to device variability and poor performance in different environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advance SWCNT materials into a functional bioelectronic interface using a novel dual-click chemistry strategy.
• To create a stable, high-density, covalently immobilized SWCNT monolayer for reliable molecular sensing.

Main Methods:

• Employed a dual-click chemistry approach, integrating CuAAC-mediated covalent anchoring of polymer-wrapped SWCNTs with copper-free click reactions for biomolecular conjugation.
• Developed a chemically robust SWCNT monolayer platform capable of withstanding harsh conditions like sonication and repeated gate-voltage cycling.

Main Results:

• Fabricated devices demonstrated hysteresis-free electrical characteristics and excellent reproducibility.
• Achieved ultrasensitive detection of gas-phase cadaverine (LOD: 27.02 ppb) and liquid-phase cortisol (LOD: 5 pM).
• The SWCNT monolayer maintained structural integrity and performance in diverse chemical environments.

Conclusions:

• A covalently immobilized, monolayer, high-density SWCNT network provides a scalable, stable, and versatile platform for molecular sensing.
• This unified materials-to-device framework establishes a new standard for next-generation SWCNT bioelectronics.