An automated electrolyte-gate field-effect transistor test system for rapid screening of multiple sensors†

Abstract

Automation of laboratory processes is crucial in analytical chemistry, as it enhances experimental reproducibility by eliminating repetitive tasks and reducing human errors. In this context, the integration of laboratory automation techniques into chemical analysis, particularly utilizing electrochemical field-effect transistor (FET)-based sensors, is highly desirable for high-throughput testing. In this study, we developed an automated electrolyte-gate FET test system designed for rapid screening of multiple sensors. Comprising five key components – printed circuit board, pipetting robot, source meter unit, system switch, and computer – the automated system achieves precision control through individual programming of each instrument, followed by the synergistic integration of the instruments using Python scripts. The automated system could perform FET measurements of 96 sensors in a single run, and different operations such as liquid transfer and waste removal were optimized. The automated system was evaluated by running a pH sensing test successfully and finally applied for opioid drug testing with high working efficiency and good accuracy, demonstrating that it could be an excellent tool for different sensing applications based on electrolyte-gate FET sensors.