title: Sensitivity limits and scaling of bioelectronic graphene transducers.
abstract: Semiconducting nanomaterials are being intensively studied as active elements in bioelectronic devices, with the aim of improving spatial resolution. Yet, the consequences of size-reduction on fundamental noise limits, or minimum resolvable signals, and their impact on device design considerations have not been defined. Here, we address these key issues by quantifying the size-dependent performance and limiting factors of graphene (Gra) transducers under physiological conditions. We show that suspended Gra devices represent the optimal configuration for cardiac extracellular electrophysiology in terms of both transducer sensitivity, systematically ~5× higher than substrate-supported devices, and forming tight bioelectronic interfaces. Significantly, noise measurements on free-standing Gra together with theoretical calculations yield a direct relationship between low-frequency 1/f noise and water dipole-induced disorders, which sets fundamental sensitivity limits for Gra devices in physiological media. As a consequence, a square-root-of-area scaling of Gra transducer sensitivity was experimentally revealed to provide a critical design rule for their implementation in bioelectronics.
authors: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, 11 Beiyitiao Street, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100190, PR China.
authors: Zengguang
authors: Z
authors: Cheng
authors: Junfeng
authors: J
authors: Hou
authors: Qiaoyu
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: Tianyi
authors: T
authors: Li
authors: Hongbian
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Long
authors: L
authors: Yang
authors: Kaili
authors: K
authors: Jiang
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Yuanchang
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Fang
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D012666:Semiconductors
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite