Enhanced glucose sensing via nanoparticles-modified extended gates: A novel approach to electric double layer modulation and signal amplification in field effect transistors for improved detection sensitivity

This study presents an innovative glucose sensing platform that harnesses the enhanced electrocatalytic properties of planar electric double layer (EDL) structures in conjunction with extended gate field effect transistors (EGFETs). By integrating specific nanoparticles onto the sensor surface, this platform achieves substantial improvements in glucose detection sensitivity and overall performance. The materials employed in this research include Ni nanowires combined with graphene films, CuO nanoparticles incorporated into carbon nanostructures, and gold nanoparticles affixed to ZnO nanostructures. These nanomaterials exhibit remarkable catalytic activity, while the localized electric field effect generated by the electric double layer significantly amplifies the signal, thereby enhancing sensitivity. Experimental findings reveal notable enhancements in both sensitivity and detection limits compared to conventional glucose sensors, underscoring the potential of this platform for effective glucose monitoring. Specifically, the Ni nanowire-graphene film sensor recorded a sensitivity of 3102.7 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² with a detection limit of 51 nM. The CuO nanoparticle-carbon nanostructure sensor achieved a sensitivity of 2206.25 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² and a detection limit of 39 nM, while the gold nanoparticle-ZnO nanostructure sensor demonstrated a sensitivity of 811.8 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻² with a detection limit of 59 nM.