title: Robust fabrication method for silicon nanowire field effect transistors for sensing applications.
abstract: This paper demonstrates a new method for the top-down production of silicon nanowire field effect transistors for sensing applications. A simple and robust method for the fabrication of these devices is described, using only conventional CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) processing techniques making it manufacturable on large scale in a broad range of production facilities. Moreover, the process is flexible in terms of the choice of the type of front oxide of the transistor, as it is applied in a separate, independent step from the application of the surrounding oxide. In case ultimate small dimensions are required that go beyond the wafer stepper resolution, the use of e-beam technology to produce even smaller structures can be easily integrated. Furthermore, the use of a passivation layer opens possibilities for adding selectivity via surface modification on silicon dioxide and silicon. After a detailed description of the process, the electrical characteristics of the devices are shown together with data on the device reliability, indicating that the process is easy to manufacture, has a large yield and results in sensor devices with electrical characteristics in the desired regime.
authors.affiliation: Materials innovation institute M2i, PO Box 5008, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mescher
authors.forename: Louis C P M
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Smet
authors.forename: Ernst J R
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sudhölter
authors.forename: Johan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Klootwijk