Quantum Transport Modeling of Aligned Carbon Nano Tube (ACNT) FET Biosensors

Aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) field‑effect transistors (FETs) are investigated at imec as a potential single-molecule sensing platform due to their exceptional electrical properties, pristine surface, and back end of line processing compatibility. To fully exploit their potential, a deep understanding of charge transport at the nanoscale - particularly in the presence of biomolecular interactions in a liquid environment - is essential. This project focuses on applying quantum transport modeling approaches to simulate the signal caused by a single molecule binding to an ACNT-FET biosensor. Students will use in-house developed software incorporating the non‑equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) formalism and density functional theory (DFT) to explore how the ACNT FET architecture, the target molecule and the liquid environment impact the signal. Next to finding the optimal FET architecture, the project aims to gain fundamental understanding in the underlying physical nature of the biomolecular signal. The student will gain hands‑on experience in advanced nanoscale device simulation while contributing insights toward the design of the next generation aligned CNT FET biosensor.