Exploring fabrication methods to highly sensitive and selective InP nanowire biosensors

Fabrication methodologies for integration of nano-objects into microscale devices is still an active area of research. Here we analyze possible methods of incorporation of semiconductor nanowires into lithographically-defined electrode pads. Mechanically-transferred InP nanowires were metallized into Au and Pt pads using a electron-beam-induced Pt metallization. Atomic and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopies show that a contamination of Pt on the nanowire and the region around it can prevent application of this technique to biosensors in which surface functionalization protocols must be applied as part of the fabrication methodology. Other transfer methods with more controlled nanowire positioning, such as nanotweezers, may be necessary to overcome this problem.