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Development of PFAS Responsive Electrolyte-Gated Field-Effect Transistors Using Conjugated Polymer-Single-Walled
Roozbeh Javad Kalbasi1,2, Mokhamed Ranne1, May Ourabi3
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and the Brockhouse Institute for Materials, Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Small Methods
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Conjugated polymers functionalized with pillar[5]arenes effectively disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in water. These polymer-SWNT complexes enable water-processable electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors (EGFETs) for sensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Conjugated polymers are effective dispersants for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs).
- Modifying polymer side chains allows fine-tuning of polymer-SWNT complex properties for specific applications.
- Pillar[5]arenes with quaternary ammonium groups can be incorporated into polymer side chains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize water-dispersible polymer-SWNT complexes using pillar[5]arene functionalization.
- To fabricate and test electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors (EGFETs) based on these complexes.
- To demonstrate the sensing capabilities of the developed EGFETs for specific analytes.
Main Methods:
- Strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) for attaching pillar[5]arenes to polymer side chains.
- Dispersion of SWNTs in aqueous media using the functionalized polymer.
- Fabrication of EGFET devices incorporating the polymer-SWNT complexes.
- Electrochemical analysis and device performance testing.
Main Results:
- The functionalized polymer effectively dispersed SWNTs in aqueous media.
- EGFET devices exhibited strong ambipolar performance and rapid signal stabilization with DI water as the electrolyte.
- The EGFETs successfully detected potassium perfluorooctanoate (PFOK) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOH), differentiating them from octanoic acid.
Conclusions:
- Functionalized polymer-SWNT complexes are water-processable and suitable for EGFET fabrication.
- The developed EGFETs show promise as sensitive and selective sensors.
- This approach enables the creation of advanced sensing platforms based on polymer-nanotube composites.
