Multi-ion (Na+/ K+/Ca2+/Mg2+) EGFET sensor based on heterostructure of ZrO2-NPs/MacroPSi

In this study, a heterostructure of ZrO2-NPs/MacroPSi EGFET was reported to the detection of biologically important human metal ions such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+. Using the solvothermal technique, ZrO2 nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface and wall of MacroPSi. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) are used to determine the morphology and structure of ZrO2 nanoparticles, respectively. Afterward, an extended gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) based on a heterostructure of (ZrO2-NPs/MacroPSi) was demonstrated for the first time as a cation sensor for different solutions. (ZrO2-NPs/MacroPSi) EGFET ions sensor improved voltage sensitivity of 67, 62, 44, and 38.2 mV/dec, for Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, respectively. The current sensitivity of EGFET was found to be 1.22, 1.06, 0.605, and 0.49 (µA)1/2/dec, for Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, respectively. The results demonstrated that the current/voltage sensitivity values are highly linear. The ZrO2/Psi-based EGFET cation sensor's excellent measured sensitivity makes it a viable candidate for use as a sensor in a variety of ions detection applications.