Biological Device And Biosensing Method Thereof
A biological device includes a substrate, a gate electrode, and a sensing well. The substrate includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a body region, and a sensing region. The channel region is disposed between the source region and the drain region. The sensing region is at least disposed between the channel region and the body region. The gate electrode is at least disposed on or above the channel region of the substrate. The sensing well is at least disposed adjacent to the sensing region.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/716,196, titled “Biological Device and Biosensing Method Thereof,” filed Dec. 16, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/700,133, titled “Biological Device and Biosensing Method Thereof,” filed Apr. 29, 2015, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDBiosensors are devices for sensing and detecting biomolecules. The biosensors operate on the basis of electronic, electrochemical, optical, or mechanical detection principles. Biosensors including transistors are sensors that electrically sense charges, photons, or mechanical properties of bio-entities or biomolecules. The detection can be performed by detecting the bio-entities or biomolecules themselves, or through interaction and reaction between specified reactants and bio-entities/biomolecules. Such biosensors can be manufactured using semiconductor processes, can quickly convert electric signals, and can be easily applied to integrated circuits (ICs) and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
A biological device and the method of bio-sensing are provided in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. The variations of the embodiments are discussed. Throughout the various views and illustrative embodiments, like reference numbers are used to designate like elements.
From another point of view, the source region 110 and the drain region 120 are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the channel region 130. The body region 140 is separated from the channel region 130. The sensing region 150 is physically connected the body region 140 to the channel region 130, and the body region 140 and the channel region 130 are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the sensing region 150. The gate electrode 200 is at least disposed on or above the channel region 130.
In
The following paragraphs provide detailed explanations with respect to how to use a biological device to sense biomolecules.
Subsequently, as shown in operation S20, forming a depletion region in the sensing region 150, such that at least partial of the sensing region 150 is depleted. In other words, at least partial of the sensing region 150 is the depletion region. The “depletion region” herein is an insulating region within a conductive and doped semiconductor material where the mobile charge carriers have been forced away, or have diffused away by an electric field. Hence, the elements left in the depletion region are ionized donor or acceptor impurities.
In some embodiments, a plasma treatment is performed to the sensing region 150 to make the sensing region 150 become depleted. In some other embodiments, an ion implantation process is performed to the sensing region 150 to make the sensing region 150 become depleted. The plasma treatment and the ion implantation process can be done during the biological device is manufactured, and the claimed scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.
In still some other embodiments, a bias is applied to the body region 140 to make the sensing region 150 become depleted. For example, a bias source 160 (see
For example,
Reference is made to
For example,
It is noted that the depletion behavior of the depletion region 152 changed in the sensing region 150 in
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In
It is noticed that the flow chart of
Reference is made again to
The substrate 100 may be doped, such as P-type and N-type, to form the source region 110, the drain region 120, the channel region 130, the body region 140, and the sensing region 150. In some embodiments, the source region 110 and the drain region 120 are N-doped regions, and the channel region 130, the body region 140, and the sensing region 150 are P-doped regions. Hence, the transistor T is a P-channel transistor. In some other embodiments, the source region 110 and the drain region 120 are P-doped regions, and the channel region 130, the body region 140, and the sensing region 150 are N-doped regions. Hence, the transistor T is an N-channel transistor.
In
Reference is made to
In
Reference is made to
In some other embodiments, the liquid analyte 400 may have positive charging biomolecules, which causes the depletion region 152 of the sensing region 150 more depleted. Hence, the current from the body region 140 is more difficult to pass the sensing region 150, and the threshold voltage is decreased. Furthermore, as the charging volume of the positive charging biomolecules increases, the threshold voltage decreases. Therefore, by forming the depletion region 152 in the sensing region 150, the charging molecules in the liquid analyte 400 can affect the depletion behavior of the depletion region 152 and thus be sensed by the biological device.
In some embodiments, the bias source 160 is a tunable bias source, which can tune the depletion behavior of the sensing region 150 according to the sensitivity of the biological device. Furthermore, although in
Reference is made again to
When the liquid analyte 400 is disposed in the sensing well 300, the depletion behavior of the depletion region is changed. In some embodiments, as the charging volume of the negative charging biomolecules increases, the threshold voltage decreases, and as the charging volume of the positive charging biomolecules increases, the threshold voltage increases. Also, the depletion region can be formed using a plasma treatment or ion implantation process in some other embodiments.
Reference is made to
In
Reference is made again to
It is understood that the embodiments of the biological device mentioned above are provided as examples and are not intended to be limited. The biological device may have different configurations consistent with the spirit of the present disclosure in alternative embodiments depending on real situations and manufacturing concerns.
In the aforementioned embodiments, a depletion region can be formed in the sensing region of the substrate. When the liquid analyte is disposed in the sensing well, the charging biomolecules therein can affect the depletion behavior of the depletion region, thereby affecting the threshold voltage of the transistor. Furthermore, the threshold voltage is changed according to the charging volume and the charge type of the charging biomolecules. Hence, by measuring the threshold voltage, the charging volume and the type of the charging biomolecules can be identified. Since the depletion behavior of the depletion region is sensitive to the charging performance of the liquid analyte, the sensitivity of the biological device can be improved. Furthermore, the source region, the drain region, and the channel region of the transistor can form a switch to control the on/off state of the biological device. In other words, the biological device does not connect to an additional switch, which occupies an additional area, resulting in a small device size. Hence, the density of the biological devices can be increased.
An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a biological device including a substrate, a gate electrode, and a sensing well. The substrate includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a body region, and a sensing region. The channel region is disposed between the source region and the drain region. The sensing region is at least disposed between the channel region and the body region. The gate electrode is at least disposed on or above the channel region of the substrate. The sensing well is at least disposed adjacent to the sensing region.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a biological device including a substrate, a gate electrode, and a sensing well. The substrate includes a channel region, a source region, a drain region, a body region, and a sensing region. The source region and the drain region are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the channel region. The body region is separated from the channel region. The sensing region is physically connected the body region to the channel region. The gate electrode is at least disposed on or above the channel region. The channel region, the source region, the drain region, and the gate electrode form a transistor. The sensing well exposes the sensing region.
Still another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method for biosensing including providing a biological device. The biological device includes a substrate, a gate electrode, and a sensing well. The substrate includes a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a body region, and a sensing region. The channel region is disposed between the source region and the drain region. The sensing region is at least disposed between the channel region and the body region. The gate electrode is at least disposed on or above the channel region of the substrate. The sensing well is at least disposed adjacent to the sensing region. A depletion region is formed in the sensing region. A liquid analyte is disposed in the sensing well. A threshold voltage between the source region and the drain region is measured.
The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A device, comprising:
- a source region and a drain region disposed in a substrate;
- a sensing region disposed in the substrate;
- a channel region disposed in the substrate and between the source region and the drain region;
- a gate dielectric disposed on a first surface of the sensing region and on a first surface of the channel region;
- a sensing well disposed on a second surface of the sensing region; and
- a gate electrode disposed on a first surface of the gate dielectric and overlapping the sensing region and the channel region.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein an elongated side of the sensing region extends along a first direction and an elongated side of the channel region extends along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing well is overlapping with the sensing region and non-overlapping with the channel region.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing well is overlapping with the sensing region and the channel region.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing well is overlapping with the sensing region, the channel region, the source region, and the drain region.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing region is configured to bind target biomolecules.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing well is configured to hold a liquid analyte.
8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a buried oxide layer disposed on a second surface of the channel region.
9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a buried oxide layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the sensing well is disposed in the buried oxide layer.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the gate electrode is H-shaped or T-shaped.
11. A device, comprising:
- a buried oxide layer disposed on a first surface of a substrate;
- a gate dielectric disposed on a second surface of the substrate;
- a gate electrode disposed on a first surface of the gate dielectric;
- a sensing region disposed in the substrate;
- a channel region disposed in the substrate and abutting the sensing region; and
- a source region and a drain region disposed in the substrate and abutting the sensing region.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the sensing region and the channel region are disposed in a T-shaped layout configuration.
13. The device of claim 11, further comprising an other sensing region disposed in the substrate, wherein the source region and the drain region are disposed between the sensing region and the other sensing region.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the sensing region, the other sensing region, and the channel region are disposed in an H-shaped layout configuration.
15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a sensing well disposed on the sensing region.
16. The device of claim 11, further comprising a sensing well disposed on the sensing region and the channel region.
17. A method, comprising:
- depositing a gate dielectric on a first surface of a substrate;
- depositing a gate electrode on a first surface of the gate dielectric;
- forming first and second sensing regions in the substrate and abutting a second surface of the gate dielectric;
- forming a channel region in the substrate and abutting the first and second sensing regions; and
- forming a source region and a drain region in the substrate and abutting the first and second sensing regions.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising binding target molecules to the first and second sensing regions.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising depositing a buried oxide layer on a second surface of the substrate.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming a sensing well on a second surface of the substrate.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 31, 2023
Publication Date: Nov 23, 2023
Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Hsinchu)
Inventors: Ta-Chuan LIAO (Taichung City), Chien-Kuo YANG (Taipei City), Yi-Shao LIU (Zhubei City), Tung-Tsun CHEN (Hsinchu City), Chan-Ching LIN (Hinchu), Jui-Cheng HUANG (Hsinchu City), Felix Ying-Kit TSUI (Cupertino, CA), Jing-Hwang YANG (Zhubei City)
Application Number: 18/228,288