Physicochemical and biocompatibility analyses of surface-coated IN0.57SB0.43 thin films under aqueous conditions

InSb-based devices embedded in the human body can be utilized for biological applications, including the detection of biomagnetic fields owing to the high electron mobility of InSb, which is a suitable magnetic resistance element. In this study, the aqueous stability of In[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text]/quartz prepared by RF magnetron sputtering was evaluated as the initial stage for use in biomedical devices. In[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text]/quartz was coated with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MPT), as InSb was not stable under aqueous conditions. MPT coating did not affect the thin-film properties (such as surface morphology, crystal structure, and electrical properties) of In[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text]/quartz. A cell viability assay confirmed the lower cytotoxicity of MPT-coated In[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text]/quartz than that of bare In[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text]/quartz because the MPT coating reduces the elution of indium from In[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text]/quartz. In addition, the MPT coating essentially suppressed the deterioration of the thin-film properties under simulated physiological conditions. Therefore, MPT-coated InSb thin films are expected for use in temporary implanted biomedical devices.

Correction: Electrochemically deposited nanocrystalline InSb thin films and their electrical properties

Correction for ‘Electrochemically deposited nanocrystalline InSb thin films and their electrical properties’ by K. E. Hnida et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 1345–1350.