Biological and chemical sensors based on graphene materials

Abstract

Owing to their extraordinary electrical, chemical, optical, mechanical and structural properties, graphene and its derivatives have stimulated exploding interests in their sensor applications ever since the first isolation of free-standing graphene sheets in year 2004. This article critically and comprehensively reviews the emerging graphene-based electrochemical sensors, electronic sensors, optical sensors, and nanopore sensors for biological or chemical detection. We emphasize on the underlying detection (or signal transduction) mechanisms, the unique roles and advantages of the used graphene materials. Properties and preparations of different graphene materials, their functionalizations are also comparatively discussed in view of sensor development. Finally, the perspective and current challenges of graphene sensors are outlined (312 references).

Real‐Time Cellular Cytochrome C Monitoring through an Optical Microfiber: Enabled by a Silver‐Decorated Graphene Nanointerface

“…As widely employed in many electrochemical sensors,15, 16, 17, 42, 43, 44, 45 RGO with a partial planar structure and abundant oxygen‐containing functional groups provided a suitable platform (high surface area43 and more binding sites45) for aptamer immobilization by π–π interactions in this work 30. Simultaneously, slight changes in the charge environment of the RGO sheet arising from the binding of cyt c may result in an improved change in electronic characteristics,46 which sharpened the sensitivity of sensor.…”

Graphene based metal and metal oxide nanocomposites: synthesis, properties and their applications

“…conversion and storage, solar energy harvesting etc. [33][34][35] In order to further enhance the properties and to broaden the applications of graphene, various metal and metal oxide NPs have been decorated on graphene. 5 Apart from enhancing the properties of graphene, the NPs act as a stabilizer against the aggregation of individual graphene sheets, which is caused by strong van der Waals interactions between the graphene layers.…”

Environmental applications using graphene composites: water remediation and gas adsorption

“…To avoid aggregate formation of bare nanoparticles, graphene has been used as a supporting material in multiple studies. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] The rst use of functionalized graphene as an ionic water remediation adsorbent was conducted by Chandra et al who showed that arsenic could be removed easily from contaminated water. 36 Arsenic which exists in water as arsenite and arsenate ions is one of the most toxic and carcinogenic chemical elements when consumed in quantities above 10 parts per billion.…”

“…There have been multiple reviews on the structure/ chemistry and use of graphene published recently, however none of these reviews deal specically with environmental concerns. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] In this review we aim to show how graphene and its derivatives are being applied in pollution management with an emphasis on gas adsorption and water remediation. Section 2 will review the recent literature on the use of graphene in water remediation; due to the multiple studies in this eld we have decided to split this section into 2 parts namely adsorption and photocatalytic.…”