Research
Si-NW sensors

Education
2013 Ph.D., École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
2008 M.Sc., École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

Publications

  1. Active Surfaces as Possible Functional Systems in Detection and Chemical (Bio) Reactivity
    Catherine E. Housecroft, Cornelia G. Palivan, Karl Gademann, Wolfgang Meier, Michel Calame, Viktoria Mikhalevich, Xiaoyan Zhang, Ellen Piel, Mathieu Szponarski, Alexandra Wiesler, Angelo Lanzilotto, Edwin C. Constable, Axel Fanget, and Ralph L. Stoop.
    Chimia 70 (6), 402-412 (2016) [DOI] [Abstract]

    This article presents design strategies to demonstrate approaches to generate functionalized surfaces which have the potential for application in molecular systems; sensing and chemical reactivity applications are exemplified. Some applications are proven, while others are still under active investigation. Adaptation and extension of our strategies will lead to interfacing of different type of surfaces, specific interactions at a molecular level, and possible exchange of signals/cargoes between them. Optimization of the present approaches from each of five research groups within the NCCR will be directed towards expanding the types of functional surfaces and the properties that they exhibit.

  2. Implementing Silicon Nanoribbon Field-Effect Transistors as Arrays for Multiple Ion Detection
    Ralph L. Stoop, Mathias Wipf, Steffen Mueller, Kristine Bedner, Iain A. Wright, Colin J. Martin, Edwin C. Constable, Axel Fanget, Christian Schoenenberger, and Michel Calame.
    Biosensors 6 (2), 21 (2016) [DOI] [Abstract]

    Ionic gradients play a crucial role in the physiology of the human body, ranging from metabolism in cells to muscle contractions or brain activities. To monitor these ions, inexpensive, label-free chemical sensing devices are needed. Field-effect transistors (FETs) based on silicon (Si) nanowires or nanoribbons (NRs) have a great potential as future biochemical sensors as they allow for the integration in microscopic devices at low production costs. Integrating NRs in dense arrays on a single chip expands the field of applications to implantable electrodes or multifunctional chemical sensing platforms. Ideally, such a platform is capable of detecting numerous species in a complex analyte. Here, we demonstrate the basis for simultaneous sodium and fluoride ion detection with a single sensor chip consisting of arrays of gold-coated SiNR FETs. A microfluidic system with individual channels allows modifying the NR surfaces with self-assembled monolayers of two types of ion receptors sensitive to sodium and fluoride ions. The functionalization procedure results in a differential setup having active fluoride- and sodium-sensitive NRs together with bare gold control NRs on the same chip. Comparing functionalized NRs with control NRs allows the compensation of non-specific contributions from changes in the background electrolyte concentration and reveals the response to the targeted species.

  3. Nanopore integrated nanogaps for DNA detection
    A. Fanget, F. Traversi, S. Khlybov, P. Granjon, A. Magrez, L. Forró, and A. Radenovic.
    Nano Letters 14 (1), 244-249 (2014) [DOI]