Exotic carbon nanotube based field effect transistor for the selective detection of sucrose

[Display omitted] •Au-CNTs were prepared by using the anodized aluminum oxide template and assembled for FET sensor.•Au-CNT-FET sensor shows high selectivity for sucrose among sugar family.•A possible selective detection mechanism of the FET sensor has been proposed.•The selectivity of FET sensor will help to detect the sucrose level among the concentrated sugar mixture in the beverage. A carbon nanotube decorated with Au nanoparticles (Au-CNTs) could be an active sensing element of a field-effect transistor (FET) for the sensitive detection of sucrose among the sugar family (glucose, fructose and sucrose). The sensor showed high sensitivity for sucrose (0.64 mM−1) up to 2.5 mM, but it showed extremely low sensitivity for glucose (~0.28 mM−1) and fructose (~0.05 mM−1). The origin of the selective detection mechanism might be the increased potential barrier between the conductive CNTs by the adsorption of the bulky sucrose on the surface of the attached Au nanoparticles. We demonstrated that the Au-CNT-FET could be a good biosensor for the fast and easy detection of sucrose level among the concentrated sugar mixture in a honey and a sports drink within acceptable error range in food industry, ~1%.