Abstract: Provided herein are various examples of aspects of a biosensor and methods for manufacturing and using aspects of a biosensor. The method of manufacturing may include forming a germanium layer above a surface of an image sensor and forming a dielectric stack above a surface of the germanium layer. The biosensor can be utilized by placing nucleic acid(s) in reaction sites of the biosensor, exposing the reaction sites to light from a light source (e.g., excitation light), receiving emitted light from the reaction sites via the germanium layer, and identifying, based on the emitted light, a composition of the one or more nucleic acids.