title: Gallium nitride electrodes for membrane-based electrochemical biosensors.
abstract: We report on the deposition of planar lipid bilayers (supported membranes) on gallium nitride (GaN) electrodes for potential applications as membrane-based biosensors. The kinetics of the lipid membrane formation upon vesicle fusion were monitored by simultaneous measurements of resistance and capacitance of the membrane using AC impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range between 50 mHz and 50 kHz. We could identify a two-step process of membrane spreading and self-healing. Despite its relatively low resistance, the membrane can be modeled by a parallel combination of an ideal resistor and capacitor, indicating that the membrane efficiently blocks the diffusion of ions.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
authors.forename: H-G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: von Ribbeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stutzmannn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eickhoff
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D004058:Diffusion; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D005708:Gallium / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008561:Membrane Fusion
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; C473348:gallium nitride; D005708:Gallium