Giovanni Boero

Detection of a single magnetic microbead using a miniaturized silicon Hall sensor

Using a highly sensitive silicon Hall sensor fabricated in a standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, we detect a single magnetic microbead of 2.8 μm in diameter. The miniaturized sensor has an active area of 2.4×2.4 μm 2, a sensitivity of 175 V/AT and a resistance of 8.5 k. Two detection methods, both exploiting the superparamagnetic behavior of the bead, are experimentally tested and their performances are compared. This work opens the way to the fabrication of low cost microsystems for biochemical applications based on the use of dense arrays of silicon Hall sensors and CMOS electronics.

Planar microcoil-based microfluidic NMR probes

Microfabricated small-volume NMR probes consisting of electroplated planar microcoils integrated on a glass substrate with etched microfluidic channels are fabricated and tested. 1H NMR spectra are acquired at 300 MHz with three different probes having observed sample volumes of respectively 30, 120, and 470 nL. The achieved sensitivity enables acquisition of an 1H spectrum of 160 microg sucrose in D2O, corresponding to a proof-of-concept for on-chip NMR spectroscopy. Increase of mass-sensitivity with coil diameter reduction is demonstrated experimentally for planar microcoils. Models that enable quantitative prediction of the signal-to-noise ratio and of the influence of microfluidic channel geometry on spectral resolution are presented and successfully compared to the experimental data. The main factor presently limiting sensitivity for high-resolution applications is identified as being probe-induced static magnetic field distortions. Finally, based on the presented model and measured data, future performance of planar microcoil-based microfluidic NMR probes is extrapolated and discussed.

Production of antihydrogen

Results are presented for a measurement for the production of the antihydrogen atom H0 ≡ pe+, the simplest atomic bound state of antimatter. A method has been used by the PS210 collaboration at LEAR which assumes that the production of H0 is predominantly mediated by the e+e−-pair creation via the two-photon mechanism in the antiproton-nucleus interaction. Neutral H0 atoms are identified by a unique sequence of characteristics. In principle H0 is well suited for investigations of fundamental CPT violation studies under different forces, however, in our investigations we concentrate on the production of this antimatter object, since so far it has never been observed before. The production of 11 antihydrogen atoms is reported including possibly 2±1 background signals, the observed yield agrees with theoretical predictions.

High-Q factor RF planar microcoils for micro-scale NMR spectroscopy

We present the design, fabrication and test of high-Q factor radiofrequency planar microcoils for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in small volume samples. The coils are fabricated on glass wafers using high-aspect ratio SU-8 photoepoxy and copper electroplating. On-wafer electrical characterization shows quality factors up to 40 at 800 MHz. A 500 μm diameter microcoil with a measured quality factor of 24 at 300 MHz is mounted on a printed circuit board and electrically contacted using aluminum wire bonding. This probe is inserted in a 7 T-superconducting magnet, and a 1H-NMR spectrum of 160 nl ethylbenzene contained in a capillary placed over the microcoil is acquired in a single scan. This work is an important step towards the integration of NMR detection into micro-total analysis systems (μTAS).

Micro-Hall devices: performance, technologies and applications

In this review paper, we summarize the performance (in particular the magnetic field resolution), micro-fabrication technologies and applications of micrometer sized Hall effect devices. Additionally, our activities in this domain are briefly described.

Submicrometer Hall devices fabricated by focused electron-beam-induced deposition

Hall devices having an active area of about (500 nm)(2) are fabricated by focused electron-beam-induced deposition. The deposited material consists of cobalt nanoparticles in a carbonaceous matrix. The realized devices have, at room temperature, a current sensitivity of about 1 V/AT, a resistance of a few kilo-ohms, and can be biased with a maximum current of about 1 mA. The room-temperature magnetic field resolution is about 10 muT/Hz(1/2) at frequencies above 1 kHz.

Fully integrated probe for proton nuclear magnetic resonance magnetometry

In this article, we present the first fully integrated nuclear magnetic resonance probe ever realized. Planar spiral coils, a radio-frequency preamplifier, a mixer, and an audio-frequency amplifier are integrated using a standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor technology on a single silicon chip of 10 mm2. A 1 mm3 solid sample of cis-polyisoprene, placed over one of the integrated coils, is used as resonating material. The realized integrated probe allows measurements of static magnetic fields from 0.7 to 7 T with a magnetic-field resolution better than 1 ppm/Hz1/2, an absolute accuracy better than 3 ppm, and a spatial resolution of about 1 mm.

Granular Co–C nano-Hall sensors by focused-beam-induced deposition

We analyzed the performance of Hall sensors with different Co-C ratios, deposited directly in nano-structured form, using

A single-chip array of NMR receivers

Co_2(CO)_8

Hall detection of magnetic resonance

gas molecules, by focused electron or ion beam induced deposition. Due to the enhanced inter-grain scattering in these granular wires, the Extraordinary Hall Effect can be increased by two orders of magnitude with respect to pure Co, up to a current sensitivity of