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Construction of Membrane Sieves Using Stoichiometric and Stress-Reduced $Si_3N_4/SiO_2/Si_3N_4$ Multilayer Films and Their Applications in Blood Plasma Separation

  • Lee, Dae-Sik (IT Convergence Technology Research Laboratory, ETRI) ;
  • Choi, Yo-Han (IT Convergence Technology Research Laboratory, ETRI) ;
  • Han, Yong-Duk (Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University) ;
  • Yoon, Hyun-C. (Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University) ;
  • Shoji, Shuichi (Department of Electronics and Photonic Systems, Waseda University) ;
  • Jung, Mun-Youn (IT Convergence Technology Research Laboratory, ETRI)
  • Received : 2011.06.29
  • Accepted : 2011.10.27
  • Published : 2012.04.04

Abstract

The novelty of this study resides in the fabrication of stoichiometric and stress-reduced $Si_3N_4/SiO_2/Si_3N_4$ triple-layer membrane sieves. The membrane sieves were designed to be very flat and thin, mechanically stress-reduced, and stable in their electrical and chemical properties. All insulating materials are deposited stoichiometrically by a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition system. The membranes with a thickness of 0.4 ${\mu}m$ have pores with a diameter of about 1 ${\mu}m$. The device is fabricated on a 6" silicon wafer with the semiconductor processes. We utilized the membrane sieves for plasma separations from human whole blood. To enhance the separation ability of blood plasma, an agarose gel matrix was attached to the membrane sieves. We could separate about 1 ${\mu}L$ of blood plasma from 5 ${\mu}L$ of human whole blood. Our device can be used in the cell-based biosensors or analysis systems in analytical chemistry.

Keywords

References

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