An example biosensor is provided and includes a semiconductor sensing element, a first electrode and a second electrode located on a first plane of the sensing element with a first electric field being applied thereacross, a third electrode located on a second plane of the sensing element parallel to and removed from the first plane with a second electric field being applied across the first electrode and the third electrode perpendicular to the first electric field, and a dielectric substrate having a first portion that constrains a fluid including an analyte on a surface of the sensing element, and a second portion that facilitates dielectric separation of the fluid from the electrodes. The mutually perpendicular electric fields facilitate adjusting a height of a fluid-sensor interface comprising an electrical double layer in the fluid enabling detection and characterization of the analyte.