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A fluorographene sensing membrane on silicon nitride (Si3N4) for light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS) is investigated. Three layers of monolayer graphene grown using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) were transferred and stacked on a Si3N4 LAPS and then treated with CF4 plasma with a filter shielding. Clear fluorination of the 3-layer graphene is proven by studying the Raman spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurement. The pH sensitivity and linearity of this fluorographene sensing membrane are 56.8 mV/pH and 99.4%, respectively. The drift coefficient and hysteresis are 2.6 mV/h and 2.9 mV, respectively. This sensing performance is comparable to a Si3N4 sensing membrane. A significant negative bias shift in the photocurrent versus gate bias characteristics can be observed in the fluorographene sensing membrane, which could be explained by the fact that the work function increases owing to the dipole effect of carbon–fluorine bonds. A two-dimensional (2D) image of photocurrent measured in a pH 7 buffer solution for a sample with fluorographene and a Si3N4 sensing membrane on the same surface is generated by the scanning controlled by an X Y stage and LAPS measurement system. The high and the low photocurrents of the fluorographene and Si3N4 sensing membrane can be clearly distinguished in the static 2D pH image with an appropriate gate bias voltage. Through these experimental results, fluorographene is proven to be a suitable pH-sensing membrane. Further study on surface immobilization is suggested for biomedical targets in the future.

To develop a lab on a chip (LOC) integrated with both sensor and actuator functions, a novel two-in-one system based on optical-driven manipulation and sensing in a microfluidics setup based on a hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layer on an indium tin oxide/glass is first realized. A high-intensity discharge xenon lamp functioned as the light source, a chopper functioned as the modulated illumination for a certain frequency, and a self-designed optical path projected on the digital micromirror device controlled by the digital light processing module was established as the illumination input signal with the ability of dynamic movement of projected patterns. For light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) operation, alternating current (AC)-modulated illumination with a frequency of 800 Hz can be generated by the rotation speed of the chopper for photocurrent vs bias voltage characterization. The pH sensitivity, drift coefficient, and hysteresis width of the Si(3)N(4) LAPS are 52.8 mV/pH, −3.2 mV/h, and 10.5 mV, respectively, which are comparable to the results from the conventional setup. With an identical two-in-one system, direct current illumination without chopper rotation and an AC bias voltage can be provided to an a-Si:H chip with a manipulation speed of 20 μm/s for magnetic beads with a diameter of 1 μm. The collection of magnetic beads by this light-actuated AC electroosmosis (LACE) operation at a frequency of 10 kHz can be easily realized. A fully customized design of an illumination path with less decay can be suggested to obtain a high efficiency of manipulation and a high signal-to-noise ratio of sensing. With this proposed setup, a potential LOC system based on LACE and LAPS is verified with the integration of a sensor and an actuator in a microfluidics setup for future point-of-care testing applications.

Sweat rate monitor is an important factor for hydration in exercise and training. However, the measurement of sweat rate is complicated and time-consumption in the conventional method by a calculation of total weight loss. Sweat sensor is a potential candidate to overcome these drawbacks, which may be possible to use in wearable applications for continuous detection. In the study, a new capacitive-type sensor constructed by Gui diatomaceous earth (GDE) is first proposed for solution volume detection in μl level on flexible substrate. Solution can easily penetrate into GDE through the top electrode with interdigital patterns. Capacitance is increased with volume of RO water, which can be explained by increases of dielectric constant and response area after water penetration. Sensitivity is about 7.2 pF/μl and application volume range is from 2 to 8 μl, which is a potential candidate for human sweating rate test in the future.