Efficient surface silanization and fluorescent labelling of germanium pyramid array: Optimization and characterization

Öz

Nowadays homogeneous germanium (Ge) pyramid arrays are emerging in many application areas such as solar cells, photodetectors and next-generation semiconductor lasers. To enhance the application areas of germanium pyramid surfaces, particularly in chemical and biological sensors, these surfaces need to be modified to rapidly respond to biological molecules. In this work, a simple and cost-effective method was investigated to modify germanium pyramid surfaces with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), enabling them to be functionalized for interaction with biological molecules. In order to establish the presence of APTES on germanium surfaces, APTES modified surfaces were labeled with fluorescent BODIPY molecules. During the silanization process, the effects of reaction time and reaction temperature were studied for the attachment of APTES on bulk germanium and pyramid array. The products of different reactions were characterized using photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). The optimum reaction time and processing temperature for a reasonably good surface coverage by APTES molecules were determined as 24 hour and 60 0C, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime of BODIPY molecules on pyramids monitored with FLIM microscope was measured as 2.4 ns. APTES treatment can offer a robust and reliable pathway to immobilize various molecules on electronically important semiconductor surfaces and fabricate new optoelectronic devices with high performance.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Germanium pyramid
• APTES
• Silanization
• BODIPY
• FLIM microscope.

Proje Numarası

114F451 ve 16-M-15

Germanyum piramit dizisinin etkin yüzey silanizasyonu ve floresan etiketlenmesi: Optimizasyon ve karakterizasyon

Öz

Günümüzde homojen germanyum (Ge) piramit dizileri güneş hücreleri, fotodedektörler ve yeni nesil yarı iletken lazerler gibi pek çok uygulama alanında karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Germanyum piramit yüzeylerin kullanım alanlarının daha çok geliştirilebilmesi kimyasal ve biyolojik sensör gibi uygulamalarda da aktif olarak kullanılabilmesi için bu yüzeylerin biyolojik moleküllere hızlı cevap verecek şekilde modifiye edilmesi gerekmektedir. Bu çalışmada germanyum piramit yüzeylerinin 3-aminopropiltrietoksisilan (APTES) ile modifiye edilerek biyolojik molekülere açık olacak şekilde işlevselleştirilmesi için basit ve düşük maliyetli bir yöntem araştırılmıştır. APTES'in germanyum yüzeylerinde varlığını belirlemek için APTES ile modifiye edilmiş germanyum yüzeyler floresan BODIPY molekülleri ile etiketlenmiştir. Silanizasyon süreci boyunca, reaksiyon süresi ve reaksiyon sıcaklığının yığınsal germanyum ve piramit dizisine yerleşen APTES molekülleri üzerindeki etkileri araştırılmıştır. Farklı reaksiyonlarla üretilen numuneler, fotolüminesans spektroskopisi (PL) ve floresan yaşam ömrü görüntüleme mikroskobu (FLIM) ile karakterize edilmiştir. APTES moleküllerinin oldukça iyi bir yüzey tutunması sağlayabilmesi için optimum reaksiyon süresi ve işlem sıcaklığı sırasıyla 24 saat ve 60 0C olarak belirlenmiştir. FLIM mikroskobu ile görüntülenen piramitler üzerinde BODIPY moleküllerinin yaşam ömrü 2,4 ns olarak ölçülmüştür. APTES uygulaması elektronik açıdan önemli yarı iletken yüzeylerde çeşitli molekülleri hareketsiz hale getirmek ve yüksek performanslı yeni optoelektronik cihazlar üretmek için sağlam ve güvenilir bir yol sunabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Germanyum piramit
• APTES
• Silanizasyon
• BODIPY
• FLIM mikroskobu.

Proje Numarası

114F451 ve 16-M-15

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