TY - JOUR A1 - Buniatyan, V. A1 - Huck, Christina A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Aroutiounian, V. M. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - BaxSr1-x TiO3/pc-Si heterojunction capacitance JF - Armenian journal of physics Y1 - 2013 SN - 1829-1171 VL - 6 IS - 4 SP - 188 EP - 197 PB - National Academy of Sciences of Armenia CY - Yerevan ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Buniatyan, V. A1 - Huck, Christina A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Aroutiounian, V. M. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - BaxSr1-x TiO3/pc-Si heterojunction JF - Armenian journal of physics Y1 - 2013 SN - 1829-1171 VL - 6 IS - 4 SP - 177 EP - 187 PB - National Academy of Sciences of Armenia CY - Yerevan ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Itabashi, Akinori A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo T1 - High-speed chemical imaging inside a microfluidic channel JF - Sensors and actuators. B: Chemical N2 - In this study, a high-speed chemical imaging system was developed for visualization of the interior of a microfluidic channel. A microfluidic channel was constructed on the sensor surface of the light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS), on which the ion concentrations could be measured in parallel at up to 64 points illuminated by optical fibers. The temporal change of pH distribution inside the microfluidic channel was recorded at a maximum rate of 100 frames per second (fps). The high frame rate allowed visualization of moving interfaces and plugs in the channel even at a flow velocity of 111 mm/s, which suggests the feasibility of plug-based microfluidic devices for flow-injection analysis (FIA). Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2013.12.090 SN - 1873-3077 (E-Journal); 0925-4005 (Print) VL - 194 SP - 521 EP - 527 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Moseley, Fiona A1 - Halamek, Jan A1 - Kramer, Friederike A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Katz, Evgeny T1 - An enzyme-based reversible CNOT logic gate realized in a flow system JF - Analyst N2 - An enzyme system organized in a flow device was used to mimic a reversible Controlled NOT (CNOT) gate with two input and two output signals. Reversible conversion of NAD⁺ and NADH cofactors was used to perform a XOR logic operation, while biocatalytic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate resulted in an Identity operation working in parallel. The first biomolecular realization of a CNOT gate is promising for integration into complex biomolecular networks and future biosensor/biomedical applications. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C4AN00133H SN - 1364-5528 (E-Journal) ; 0003-2654 (Print) VL - 139 IS - 8 SP - 1839 EP - 1842 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leinhos, Marcel A1 - Schusser, Sebastian A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Micromachined multi-parameter sensor chip for the control of polymer-degradation medium JF - Physica Status Solidi (A) : special issue on engineering and functional interfaces N2 - It is well known that the degradation environment can strongly influence the biodegradability and kinetics of biodegradation processes of polymers. Therefore, besides the monitoring of the degradation process, it is also necessary to control the medium in which the degradation takes place. In this work, a micromachined multi-parameter sensor chip for the control of the polymer-degradation medium has been developed. The chip combines a capacitive field-effect pH sensor, a four-electrode electrolyte-conductivity sensor and a thin-film Pt-temperature sensor. The results of characterization of individual sensors are presented. In addition, the multi-parameter sensor chip together with an impedimetric polymer-degradation sensor was simultaneously characterized in degradation solutions with different pH and electrolyte conductivity. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of the multi-parameter sensor chip for the control of the polymer-degradation medium. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201330364 SN - 1521-396X (E-Journal); 1862-6319 (E-Journal); 0031-8965 (Print); 1862-6300 (Print) VL - 211 IS - 6 SP - 1346 EP - 1351 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Huck, Christina A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Kerroumi, Iman A1 - Schusser, Sebastian A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Zander, Willi A1 - Schubert, Jürgen A1 - Buniatyan, Vahe V. A1 - Martirosyan, Norayr W. A1 - Wagner, Patrick A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Multiparameter sensor chip with Barium Strontium Titanate as multipurpose material JF - Electroanalysis N2 - It is well known that biochemical and biotechnological processes are strongly dependent and affected by a variety of physico-chemical parameters such as pH value, temperature, pressure and electrolyte conductivity. Therefore, these quantities have to be monitored or controlled in order to guarantee a stable process operation, optimization and high yield. In this work, a sensor chip for the multiparameter detection of three physico-chemical parameters such as electrolyte conductivity, pH and temperature is realized using barium strontium titanate (BST) as multipurpose material. The chip integrates a capacitively coupled four-electrode electrolyte-conductivity sensor, a capacitive field-effect pH sensor and a thin-film Pt-temperature sensor. Due to the multifunctional properties of BST, it is utilized as final outermost coating layer of the processed sensor chip and serves as passivation and protection layer as well as pH-sensitive transducer material at the same time. The results of testing of the individual sensors of the developed multiparameter sensor chip are presented. In addition, a quasi-simultaneous multiparameter characterization of the sensor chip in buffer solutions with different pH value and electrolyte conductivity is performed. To study the sensor behavior and the suitability of BST as multifunctional material under harsh environmental conditions, the sensor chip was exemplarily tested in a biogas digestate. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.201400076 SN - 1521-4109 (E-Journal); 1040-0397 (Print) VL - 26 IS - 5 SP - 980 EP - 987 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Kramer, F. A1 - Huck, Christina A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Bratov, A. A1 - Abramova, N. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Planar and 3D interdigitated electrodes for biosensing applications: The impact of a dielectric barrier on the sensor properties JF - Physica Status Solidi (A) - Applications and Materials Science N2 - Planar and three-dimensional (3D) interdigitated electrodes (IDE) with electrode digits separated by an insulating barrier of different heights were electrochemically characterized and compared in terms of their sensing properties. Due to the impact of the surface resistance, both types of IDE structures display a non-linear behavior in low-ionic strength solutions. The experimental data were fitted to an electrical equivalent circuit and interpreted taking into account the surface-charge-governed properties. The effect of a charged polyelectrolyte layer electrostatically assembled onto the sensor surface on the surface resistance in solutions with different KCl concentration is studied. In case of the same electrode footprint, 3D-IDEs show a larger cell constant and a higher sensitivity to molecular adsorption than that of planar IDEs. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of 3D-IDEs as a new transducer structure for a direct label-free sensing of charged molecules. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201330416 SN - 1521-396X (E-Journal); 1862-6319 (E-Journal); 0031-8965 (Print); 1862-6300 (Print) VL - 211 IS - 6 SP - 1357 EP - 1363 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Huck, Christina A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Chaudhuri, S. A1 - Zander, W. A1 - Schubert, J. A1 - Begoyan, V. K. A1 - Buniatyan, V. V. A1 - Wagner, P. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Capacitively coupled electrolyte-conductivity sensor based on high-k material of barium strontium titanate JF - Sensors and actuators. B: Chemical Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2014.02.103 SN - 1873-3077 (E-Journal); 0925-4005 (Print) IS - 198 SP - 102 EP - 109 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Biselli, Manfred A1 - Selmer, Thorsten A1 - Öhlschläger, Peter A1 - Baumann, Marcus A1 - Förster, Arnold A1 - Poghossian, Arshak T1 - Forschung „zwischen“ den Disziplinen: das Institut für Nano- und Biotechnologien JF - Analytik news : das Online-Labormagazin für Labor und Analytik N2 - "Biologie trifft Mikroelektronik", das Motto des Instituts für Nano- und Biotechnologien (INB) an der FH Aachen, unterstreicht die zunehmende Bedeutung interdisziplinär geprägter Forschungsaktivitäten. Der thematische Zusammenschluss grundständiger Disziplinen, wie die Physik, Elektrotechnik, Chemie, Biologie sowie die Materialwissenschaften, lässt neue Forschungsgebiete entstehen, ein herausragendes Beispiel hierfür ist die Nanotechnologie: Hier werden neue Werkstoffe und Materialien entwickelt, einzelne Nanopartikel oder Moleküle und deren Wechselwirkung untersucht oder Schichtstrukturen im Nanometerbereich aufgebaut, die neue und vorher nicht bekannte Eigenschaften hervorbringen. Vor diesem Hintergrund bündelt das im Jahre 2006 gegründete INB die an der FH Aachen vorhandenen Kompetenzen von derzeit insgesamt sieben Laboratorien auf den Gebieten der Halbleitertechnik und Nanoelektronik, Nanostrukturen und DNA-Sensorik, der Chemo- und Biosensorik, der Enzymtechnologie, der Mikrobiologie und Pflanzenbiotechnologie, der Zellkulturtechnik, sowie der Roten Biotechnologie synergetisch. In der Nano- und Biotechnologie steckt außergewöhnliches Potenzial! Nicht zuletzt deshalb stellen sich die Forscher der Herausforderung, in diesem Bereich gemeinsam zu forschen und Schnittstellen zu nutzen, um so bei der Gestaltung neuartiger Ideen und Produkte mitzuwirken, die zukünftig unser alltägliches Leben verändern werden. Im Folgenden werden die verschiedenen Forschungsbereiche kurz zusammenfassend vorgestellt und vorhandene Interaktionen anhand von exemplarisch ausgewählten, aktuellen Forschungsprojekten skizziert. Y1 - 2012 VL - Publ. online PB - Dr. Beyer Internet-Beratung CY - Ober-Ramstadt ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wu, Chunsheng A1 - Bronder, Thomas A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Werner, Frederik A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Label-free electrical detection of DNA with a multi-spot LAPS: First step towards light-addressable DNA chips JF - Physica status solidi A : Applications and materials science N2 - A multi-spot (4 × 4 spots) light-addressable potentiometric sensor (MLAPS) consisting of an Al–p-Si–SiO2 structure has been applied for the label-free electrical detection of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) immobilization and hybridization by the intrinsic molecular charge for the first time. Single-stranded probe ssDNA molecules (20 bases) were covalently immobilized onto the silanized SiO2 gate surface. The unspecific adsorption of mismatch ssDNA on the MLAPS gate surface was blocked by bovine serum albumin molecules. To reduce the screening effect and to achieve a high sensor signal, the measurements were performed in a low ionic-strength solution. The photocurrent–voltage (I–V) curves were simultaneously recorded on all 16 spots after each surface functionalization step. Large shifts of I–V curves of 25 mV were registered after the DNA immobilization and hybridization event. In contrast, a small potential shift (∼5 mV) was observed in case of mismatch ssDNA, revealing good specificity of the sensor. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of the MLAPS as promising transducer platform for the multi-spot label-free electrical detection of DNA molecules by their intrinsic molecular charge. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201330442 SN - 1521-396X (E-Journal); 1862-6319 (E-Journal); 0031-8965 (Print); 1862-6300 (Print) VL - 211 IS - 6 SP - 1423 EP - 1428 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Guo, Yuanyuan A1 - Seki, Kosuke A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo T1 - Novel photoexcitation method for light-addressable potentiometric sensor with higher spatial resolution JF - Applied physics express : APEX N2 - A novel photoexcitation method for the light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is proposed to achieve a higher spatial resolution of chemical images. The proposed method employs a combined light source that consists of a modulated light probe, which generates the alternating photocurrent signal, and a ring of constant illumination surrounding it. The constant illumination generates a sheath of carriers with increased concentration which suppresses the spread of photocarriers by enhanced recombination. A device simulation was carried out to verify the effect of constant illumination on the spatial resolution, which demonstrated that a higher spatial resolution can be obtained. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.7567/APEX.7.067301 SN - 1882-0786 (E-Journa); 1882-0778 (Print) VL - 7 IS - 6 SP - 067301-4 PB - IOP CY - Bristol ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wagner, Patrick A1 - Doll, Theodor A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Engineering of functional interfaces / Patrick Wagner ; Theodor Doll ; Michael J. Schöning (eds.) JF - Physica status solidi (A) : Applications and materials science Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201470241 SN - 1521-396X (E-Book); 1862-6319 (E-Book); 0031-8965 (Print); 1862-6300 (Print) VL - 211 IS - 6 SP - 1339 EP - 1339 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Riedel, Marc A1 - Kartchemnik, Julia A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Lisdat, Fred T1 - Impedimetric DNA detection – steps forward to sensorial application JF - Analytical chemistry N2 - This study describes a label-free impedimetric sensor based on short ssDNA recognition elements for the detection of hybridization events. We concentrate on the elucidation of the influence of target length and recognition sequence position on the sensorial performance. The impedimetric measurements are performed in the presence of the redox system ferri-/ferrocyanide and show an increase in charge transfer resistance upon hybridization of ssDNA to the sensor surface. Investigations on the impedimetric signal stability demonstrate a clear influence of the buffers used during the sensor preparation and the choice of the passivating mercaptoalcanol compound. A stable sensor system has been developed, enabling a reproducible detection of 25mer target DNA in the low nanomolar range. After hybridization, a sensor regeneration can be reached with deionized water by adjustment of effective convection conditions, ensuring a sensor reusability. By investigations of longer targets with overhangs exposed to the solution, we can demonstrate applicability of the impedimetric detection for longer ssDNA. However, a decreasing charge transfer resistance change (ΔRct) is found by extending the overhang. As a strategy to increase the impedance change for longer target strands, the position of the recognition sequence can be designed in a way that a small overhang is exposed to the electrode surface. This is found to result in an increase in the relative Rct change. These results suggest that DNA and consequently negative charge near the electrode possess a larger impact on the impedimetric signal than DNA further away. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac501800q SN - 1520-6882 (E-Journal); 0003-2700 (Print); 0096-4484 (Print) VL - 86 (2014) IS - 15 SP - 7867 EP - 7874 PB - ACS Publications CY - Columbus ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Guo, Yuanyuan A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo T1 - Device simulation of the light-addressable potentiometric sensor for the investigation of the spatial resolution JF - Sensors and actuators B: Chemical N2 - As a semiconductor-based electrochemical sensor, the light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) can realize two dimensional visualization of (bio-)chemical reactions at the sensor surface addressed by localized illumination. Thanks to this imaging capability, various applications in biochemical and biomedical fields are expected, for which the spatial resolution is critically significant. In this study, therefore, the spatial resolution of the LAPS was investigated in detail based on the device simulation. By calculating the spatiotemporal change of the distributions of electrons and holes inside the semiconductor layer in response to a modulated illumination, the photocurrent response as well as the spatial resolution was obtained as a function of various parameters such as the thickness of the Si substrate, the doping concentration, the wavelength and the intensity of illumination. The simulation results verified that both thinning the semiconductor substrate and increasing the doping concentration could improve the spatial resolution, which were in good agreement with known experimental results and theoretical analysis. More importantly, new findings of interests were also obtained. As for the dependence on the wavelength of illumination, it was found that the known dependence was not always the case. When the Si substrate was thick, a longer wavelength resulted in a higher spatial resolution which was known by experiments. When the Si substrate was thin, however, a longer wavelength of light resulted in a lower spatial resolution. This finding was explained as an effect of raised concentration of carriers, which reduced the thickness of the space charge region. The device simulation was found to be helpful to understand the relationship between the spatial resolution and device parameters, to understand the physics behind it, and to optimize the device structure and measurement conditions for realizing higher performance of chemical imaging systems. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2014.08.016 SN - 1873-3077 (E-Journal); 0925-4005 (Print) VL - 204 SP - 659 EP - 665 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reisert, Steffen A1 - Geissler, H. A1 - Weiler, C. A1 - Wagner, P. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Multiple sensor-type system for monitoring the microbicidal effectiveness of aseptic sterilisation processes JF - Food control N2 - The present work describes a novel multiple sensor-type system for the real-time analysis of aseptic sterilisation processes employing gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a sterilant. The inactivation kinetics of Bacillus atrophaeus by gaseous H2O2 have been investigated by means of a methodical calibration experiment, taking into account the process variables H2O2 concentration, humidity and gas temperature. It has been found that the microbicidal effectiveness at H2O2 concentrations above 2% v/v is largely determined by the concentration itself, while at lower H2O2 concentrations, the gas temperature and humidity play a leading role. Furthermore, the responses of different types of gas sensors towards the influencing factors of the sterilisation process have been analysed within the same experiment. Based on a correlation established between the inactivation kinetics and the sensor responses, a calorimetric H2O2 sensor and a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOX) sensor have been identified as possible candidates for monitoring the microbicidal effectiveness of aseptic sterilisation processes employing gaseous H2O2. Therefore, two linear models that describe the relationship between sensor response and microbicidal effectiveness have been proposed. Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.07.063 SN - 1873-7129 (E-Journal); 0956-7135 (Print) VL - 47 SP - 615 EP - 622 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Khaydukova, M. M. A1 - Zadorozhnaya, O. A. A1 - Kirsanov, D. O. A1 - Iken, Heiko A1 - Rolka, David A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Babain, V. A. A1 - Vlasov, Yu. G. A1 - Legin, A. V. T1 - Multivariate processing of atomic-force microscopy images for detection of the response of plasticized polymeric membranes JF - Russian journal of applied chemistry N2 - The possibility of using the atomic-force microscopy as a method for detection of the analytical signal from plasticized polymeric sensor membranes was analyzed. The surfaces of cadmium-selective membranes based on two polymeric matrices were examined. The digital images were processed with multivariate image analysis techniques. A correlation was found between the surface profile of an ion-selective membrane and the concentration of the ion in solution. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1134/S1070427214030112 SN - 1608-3296 (E-Journal); 1070-4272 (Print) VL - 87 IS - 3 SP - 307 EP - 314 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bäcker, Matthias A1 - Schusser, Sebastian A1 - Poghossian, Arshak A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Multi-Parametererfassung mit siliziumbasiertem Sensorchip: Aus Drei mach Eins JF - GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift Y1 - 2014 SN - 0016-3538 IS - 2 SP - 28 EP - 30 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Murib, Mohammed Sharif A1 - Yeap, Weng-Siang A1 - Martens, Daan A1 - Bienstman, Peter A1 - Ceuninck, Ward de A1 - Grinsven, Bart van A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef A1 - Michiels, Luc A1 - Haenen, Ken A1 - Ameloot, Marcel A1 - Serpengüzel, Ali A1 - Wagner, Patrick T1 - Photonic detection and characterization of DNA using sapphire microspheres JF - Journal of biomedical optics N2 - A microcavity-based deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) optical biosensor is demonstrated for the first time using synthetic sapphire for the optical cavity. Transmitted and elastic scattering intensity at 1510 nm are analyzed from a sapphire microsphere (radius 500  μm, refractive index 1.77) on an optical fiber half coupler. The 0.43 nm angular mode spacing of the resonances correlates well with the optical size of the sapphire sphere. Probe DNA consisting of a 36-mer fragment was covalently immobilized on a sapphire microsphere and hybridized with a 29-mer target DNA. Whispering gallery modes (WGMs) were monitored before the sapphire was functionalized with DNA and after it was functionalized with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). The shift in WGMs from the surface modification with DNA was measured and correlated well with the estimated thickness of the add-on DNA layer. It is shown that ssDNA is more uniformly oriented on the sapphire surface than dsDNA. In addition, it is shown that functionalization of the sapphire spherical surface with DNA does not affect the quality factor (Q≈104) of the sapphire microspheres. The use of sapphire is especially interesting because this material is chemically resilient, biocompatible, and widely used for medical implants. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.19.9.097006 SN - 1560-2281 (E-Journal); 1083-3668 (Print) VL - 19 IS - 9 SP - 097006 PB - SPIE CY - Bellingham ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yoshinobu, Tatsuo A1 - Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Recent developments of chemical imaging sensor systems based on the principle of the light-addressable potentiometric sensor JF - Sensors and actuators B: Chemical N2 - The light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is an electrochemical sensor with a field-effect structure to detect the variation of the Nernst potential at its sensor surface, the measured area on which is defined by illumination. Thanks to this light-addressability, the LAPS can be applied to chemical imaging sensor systems, which can visualize the two-dimensional distribution of a particular target ion on the sensor surface. Chemical imaging sensor systems are expected to be useful for analysis of reaction and diffusion in various electrochemical and biological samples. Recent developments of LAPS-based chemical imaging sensor systems, in terms of the spatial resolution, measurement speed, image quality, miniaturization and integration with microfluidic devices, are summarized and discussed. Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2014.09.002 SN - 1873-3077 (E-Journal); 0925-4005 (Print) VL - 207, Part B SP - 926 EP - 932 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Siqueira, Jose R. A1 - Molinnus, Denise A1 - Beging, Stefan A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Incorporating a hybrid urease-carbon nanotubes sensitive nanofilm on capacitive field-effect sensors for urea detection JF - Analytical chemistry N2 - The ideal combination among biomolecules and nanomaterials is the key for reaching biosensing units with high sensitivity. The challenge, however, is to find out a stable and sensitive film architecture that can be incorporated on the sensor’s surface. In this paper, we report on the benefits of incorporating a layer-by-layer (LbL) nanofilm of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on capacitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) field-effect sensors for detecting urea. Three sensor arrangements were studied in order to investigate the adequate film architecture, involving the LbL film with the enzyme urease: (i) urease immobilized directly onto a bare EIS [EIS-urease] sensor; (ii) urease atop the LbL film over the EIS [EIS-(PAMAM/CNT)-urease] sensor; and (iii) urease sandwiched between the LbL film and another CNT layer [EIS-(PAMAM/CNT)-urease-CNT]. The surface morphology of all three urea-based EIS biosensors was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), while the biosensing abilities were studied by means of capacitance–voltage (C/V) and dynamic constant-capacitance (ConCap) measureaments at urea concentrations ranging from 0.1 mM to 100 mM. The EIS-urease and EIS-(PAMAM/CNT)-urease sensors showed similar sensitivity (∼18 mV/decade) and a nonregular signal behavior as the urea concentration increased. On the other hand, the EIS-(PAMAM/CNT)-urease-CNT sensor exhibited a superior output signal performance and higher sensitivity of about 33 mV/decade. The presence of the additional CNT layer was decisive to achieve a urea based EIS sensor with enhanced properties. Such sensitive architecture demonstrates that the incorporation of an adequate hybrid enzyme-nanofilm as sensing unit opens new prospects for biosensing applications using the field-effect sensor platform. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac500458s SN - 1520-6882 (E-Journal); 0003-2700 (Print); 0096-4484 (Print) VL - 86 IS - 11 SP - 5370 EP - 5375 PB - ACS Publications CY - Columbus ER -