Nanoscale electrochemical interface for detection of analytes

Inventors

Gupta, Chaitanya

Assignees

Probiusdx Inc • Leland Stanford Junior University

Abstract

A sensor can selectively detect quantum signatures in charge transfer processes via a tunneling current. In one aspect, the sensor can include a metal electrode having a first surface and a second surface. The sensor can also include an insulator film having a first thickness, a first surface area and a first surface chemistry. The insulator film can be coupled to the metal electrode via the first surface. The sensor can also include a functionalization film having a second thickness, a second surface area and a second surface chemistry. The functionalization film can be coupled to the metal electrode via the second surface. The insulator film and the functionalization film are configured to separate the metal electrode from an electrochemical solution comprising the analyte.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a sensor configured to detect an analyte in an electrochemical solution using a metal electrode with an insulator film and a functionalization film that transfer a tunneling current between the electrochemical solution and the metal electrode. The insulator film has a first thickness, a first surface area, and a first surface chemistry, and the functionalization film has a second thickness, a second surface area, and a second surface chemistry.

A portion of the insulator film is replaced by the functionalization film, and the first thickness of the insulator film and the second surface area of the functionalization film define a well configured to surround and contain the electrochemical solution over the metal electrode. The insulator film and the functionalization film are configured to surround and separate the metal electrode from the electrochemical solution comprising the analyte, while the insulator film and the entire second surface area of the functionalization film are configured to contact the electrochemical solution.

The invention further includes systems and methods that use a plurality of electrodes and a feedback mechanism to detect a potential associated with the electrochemical solution and to provide excitation control at a third electrode that includes the sensor. A feedback signal is generated and provided to the electrochemical solution via a second electrode, where the feedback signal is configured to provide excitation control of an analyte at a third electrode of the plurality of electrodes.

Claims Coverage

The document includes three independent claims. Across these claims, at least five main inventive features are explicitly recited: the insulator/functionalization tunneling-current sensor geometry, the well that surrounds and contains the electrochemical solution, the insulating and separating films contacting the electrochemical solution, the multi-electrode feedback excitation control arrangement, and the nanoparticle–molecular linker coupled structure as an alternative sensor embodiment.

Across the independent claims, the core claimed coverage centers on a metal electrode separated from an analyte-containing electrochemical solution by an insulator film and a functionalization film that contact the solution and transfer a tunneling current. The claims further require a well defined by replacing part of the insulator film with the functionalization film to surround and contain the electrochemical solution over the metal electrode. System and method coverage adds a feedback mechanism and multi-electrode arrangement that detect a potential and provide excitation control at a third electrode carrying the tunneling-current sensor, and a sensor variation adds a nanoparticle coupled via a molecular linker.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications