An ionic liquid-channel field-effect transistor

A theoretical and experimental study was carried out on a novel microfabricated device, an ionic liquid-channel field-effect transistor (ILCFET). The work was conducted to determine the feasibility of developing monolithic chemical analyzers for ions in solution. In these analyzers the ions are differentiated by mobility. The ILCFET provides a starting point to fabricate, understand, and model the more complex analyzers. The ILCFET resembles a MOSFET, except that the current flowing from the source to the drain is carried in thin channels by ions of a liquid electrolyte. The gate voltage induces an electric field, transverse to the current flow, which controls the channel conductance. Unlike MOSFETs, in which the channel conductance depends on one mobile charge carrier, holes or electrons, the ILCFET channel conductance depends on the concentrations of both cations and anions.