Seminaire Pr. Natali PLANK

Associate Pr. Natalie Plank

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences and the

MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

Deputy Director of the MacDiarmid Institute
 Visiting for the month of September 2026 in the laboratory of Céline Ternon (LMGP)

Nanowire and carbon nanotube device structures for Biosensors and Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) networks offer a particularly attractive platform due to their simple fabrication, tunable electronic properties, and ability to be interrogated through multiple electrical contacts on a single chip [1]. Functionalised carbon nanotube and graphene field effect transistors (CNTFETs and GFETs) have been used as the active channel in biosensors, with the future promise of lab-on-a-chip diagnostics strongly motivating the research [2]. The ability to effectively sense analytes depends on multiple factors, the conductivity of the platform [3], the robustness of the functionalisation and the selectivity and function of the receptor [4].

Carbon nanotubes also offer an interesting base platform for neuromorphic computing via physical reservoirs. Physical reservoir computing exploits the intrinsic dynamics of complex materials to perform temporal information processing with low power consumption and minimal training requirements. Disordered networks of memristive nanowires have emerged as promising neuromorphic architectures, as they can host large numbers of nonlinear junctions that collectively generate rich spatiotemporal dynamics [5-7].

Here I will present our recent work on the development of the CNTFET and GFET platforms with aptamers and insect odorant receptors and the different challenges and device constraints we have encountered. I will also present our work on the development of the CNT platform for physical reservoir computing applications.

[1]      Topinka, M. A, et al. Nano Lett. 2009 9, 1866–1871

[2]      T An et al, Lab Chip, 2010,10,2052-2056

[3]      M Thanihaichelvan M, et al, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2019, 130, 408-413

[4]      Nguyen et al., Nanomaterials, 2021 11 (9), 2280

[5]      Milano, G, et al. Nat. Mater. 2022, 21 (2), 195–202.

[6]      Kotooka, T., et al. Thermally Stable Ag 2 Se Nanowire Network as an Effective In-Materio Physical Reservoir Computing Device. 2024, 2400443, 1–10.

[7]      Zhu, R., et al Online Dynamical Learning and Sequence Memory with Neuromorphic Nanowire Networks. Nat. Commun. 2023, 14 (1), 6697.

Short Bio/CV
 
Dr Natalie Plank is Deputy Director for Commercialisation and Industry Engagement and an Associate Professor in Physics in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. Natalie completed a BSc (Hons) in Astrophysics at The University of Edinburgh before doing an MSc in Microelectronics. She then completed her PhD on the functionalisation of carbon nanotubes for molecular electronics with Rebecca Cheung also at The University of Edinburgh.

Natalie’s research interests are in the area of nanomaterial device fabrication and the characterisation of novel materials. Her current work focuses on nanomaterial device platforms for sensing technology and artificial neural networks. She is interested in carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanowires for nanowire transistor applications and in particular the ability to functionalise the nanomaterial channels with specific biomarkers or memristive molecules. Natalie’s core interests are in low cost fabrication techniques which allow for high throughput of devices whilst maintaining the particular material properties of the unique nanowire system.