Patent ID: 9170165
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: G01K,G01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. A workfunction modulation-based sensor comprising: a field-effect transistor (FET) comprising a substrate, a gate dielectric, a metal gate, a source, a drain, and a layer of sensing material provided on a top of the gate dielectric and that is electrically connected to the metal gate; an electrical connection that connects to the source of the FET; an electrical connection that connects to the drain of the FET; an electrical connection that connects to the layer of sensing material; and an environment that includes an adsorbate gas surrounding, at least a portion of, the layer of sensing material; wherein the sensing material is adapted to adsorb, at least in part, the adsorbate gas, and the amount of adsorbate gas adsorbed on the layer of sensing material modulates the workfunction of the FET such that the degree of adsorbate gas adsorption corresponds to one of the temperature or pressure associated with the environment of the FET.