Semiconductor Based Sensors

This book provides a comprehensive summary of the status of emerging sensor technologies and provides a framework for future advances in the field. Chemical sensors have gained in importance in the past decade for applications that include homeland security, medical and environmental monitoring and also food safety. A desirable goal is the ability to simultaneously analyze a wide variety of environmental and biological gases and liquids in the field and to be able to selectively detect a target analyte with high specificity and sensitivity. The goal is to realize real-time, portable and inexpensive chemical and biological sensors and to use these as monitors for handheld gas, environmental pollutant, exhaled breath, saliva, urine, or blood, with wireless capability. In the medical area, frequent screening can catch the early development of diseases, reduce the suffering of patients due to late diagnoses, and lower the medical cost. For example, a 96% survival rate has been predicted in breast cancer patients if the frequency of screening is every three months. This frequency cannot be achieved with current methods of mammography due to high cost to the patient and invasiveness (radiation). In the area of detection of medical biomarkers, many different methods, including enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA), particle-based flow cytometric assays, electrochemical measurements based on impedance and capacitance, electrical measurement of microcantilever resonant frequency change, and conductance measurement of semiconductor nanostructures, gas chromatography (GC), ion chromatography, high density peptide arrays, laser scanning quantitiative analysis, chemiluminescence, selected ion flow tube (SIFT), nanomechanical cantilevers, bead-based suspension microarrays, magnetic biosensors and mass spectrometry (MS) have been employed. Depending on the sample condition, these methods may show variable results in terms of sensitivity for some applications and may not meet the requirements for a handheld biosensor.

Semiconductor Gas Sensors, Second Edition, summarizes recent research on basic principles, new materials and emerging technologies in this essential field. Chapters cover the foundation of the underlying principles and sensing mechanisms of gas sensors, include expanded content on gas sensing characteristics, such as response, sensitivity and cross-sensitivity, present an overview of the nanomaterials utilized for gas sensing, and review the latest applications for semiconductor gas sensors, including environmental monitoring, indoor monitoring, medical applications, CMOS integration and chemical warfare agents. This second edition has been completely updated, thus ensuring it reflects current literature and the latest materials systems and applications. Includes an overview of key applications, with new chapters on indoor monitoring and medical applications Reviews developments in gas sensors and sensing methods, including an expanded section on gas sensor theory Discusses the use of nanomaterials in gas sensing, with new chapters on single-layer graphene sensors, graphene oxide sensors, printed sensors, and much more

Sales of U.S. chemical sensors represent the largest segment of the multi-billion-dollar global sensor market, which includes instruments for chemical detection in gases and liquids, biosensors, and medical sensors. Although silicon-based devices have dominated the field, they are limited by their general inability to operate in harsh environments

Semiconductor Sensors provides complete coverage of all important aspects of all modern semiconductor sensing devices. It is the only book that offers detailed coverage of the fabrication, characterization, and operational principles of the entire spectrum of devices made from silicon and other semiconductors; and it is written by world-renowned experts in the sensor field. This authoritative guide combines user-friendly organization for quick reference with a masterful pedagogical design that helps build the reader's understanding from section to section and from one chapter to the next. It begins with a discussion of semiconductor sensor classification and terminology and moves on to a broad description of semiconductor technology, emphasizing bulk and surface micromachining. Senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students will appreciate the 300 illustrations and tables that help to clarify difficult points and encourage visualization of the devices under discussion. They will also benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the presentation, which encompasses applied physics, chemical engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, and materials science. For engineers and scientists involved in sensor research and development or in designing sensor-dependent devices and systems, Semiconductor Sensors is the ultimate one-stop source for the latest information on existing technologies.

Organic semiconductors offer unique characteristics which have prompted the application of organic semiconductors and their devices in physical, chemical, and biological sensors. This book covers this emerging field by discussing both optically- and electrically-based sensor concepts. Novel transducers based on organic light-emitting diodes and organic thin-film transistors, as well as systems-on-a-chip architectures are presented. Functionalization techniques are also outlined.

Three-volumes book “Handbook of II-VI Semiconductor-Based Sensors and Radiation Detectors” is the first to cover both chemical sensors and biosensors and all types of photodetectors and radiation detectors based on II-VI semiconductors. It contains a comprehensive and detailed analysis of all aspects of the application of II-VI semiconductors in these devices. The second volume “Photodetectors” of a three-volume set, focus on the consideration of all types of optical detectors, including IR detectors, visible and UV photodetectors. This consideration includes both the fundamentals of the operation of detectors and the peculiarities of their manufacture and use. In particular, describes numerous strategies for their fabrication and characterization. An analysis of new trends in development of II-VI semiconductors-based photodetectors such as graphene/HgCdTe-, nanowire- and quantum dot-based photodetectors, as well as solution-processed, multicolor, flexible and self-powered photodetectors, are also given.

The reference provides interdisciplinary discussion for diverse II-VI semiconductors with a wide range of topics. The third volume of a three volume set, the book provides an up-to-date account of the present status of multifunctional II-VI semiconductors, from fundamental science and processing to their applications as various sensors, biosensors, and radiation detectors, and based on them to formulate new goals for the further research. The chapters in this volume provide a comprehensive overview of the manufacture, parameters and principles of operation of these devices. The application of these devices in various fields such medicine, agriculture, food quality control, environment monitoring and others is also considered. The analysis carried out shows the great potential of II-VI semiconductor-based sensors and detectors for these applications. Considers solid-state radiation detectors based on semiconductors of II-VI group and their applications; Analyzes the advantages of II-VI compounds to develop chemical and optical gas and ion sensors; Describes all types of biosensors based on II-VI semiconductors and gives examples of their use in various fields.

Three-volumes book “Handbook of II-VI Semiconductor-Based Sensors and Radiation Detectors” is the first to cover both chemical sensors and biosensors and all types of photodetectors and radiation detectors based on II-VI semiconductors. It contains a comprehensive and detailed analysis of all aspects of the application of II-VI semiconductors in these devices. The first volume "Materials and Technologies" of a three-volume set describes the physical, chemical and electronic properties of II-VI compounds, which give rise to an increased interest in these semiconductors. Technologies that are used in the development of various devices based on II-VI connections, such as material synthesis, deposition, characterization, processing, and device fabrication, are also discussed in detail in this volume. It covers also topics related to synthesis and application of II-VI-based nanoparticles and quantum dots, as well their toxicity, biocompatibility and biofunctionalization.