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Development and Functionalization of Electrolyte-Gated Graphene Field-Effect Transistor for Biomarker Detection
Published on: February 1, 2022
Practical chemical sensors from chemically derived graphene
Jesse D Fowler1, Matthew J Allen, Vincent C Tung
1Materials Processing and Evaluation Department, Space Materials Laboratory, The Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957/M2-248, Los Angeles, California 90009, USA.
ACS Nano
|February 25, 2009
Summary
Chemically converted graphene films were fabricated into practical chemical sensors for detecting nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, and 2,4-dinitrotoluene. This scalable method utilizes a charge transfer mechanism for sensitive analyte detection.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphene's unique electronic properties make it a promising material for chemical sensing applications.
- Developing scalable and cost-effective fabrication methods for graphene-based sensors is crucial for practical implementation.
- Existing graphene sensor fabrication methods can be complex and may not be easily scalable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple and scalable method for fabricating chemical sensors using chemically converted graphene.
- To investigate the sensor performance for detecting nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia (NH3), and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT).
- To understand the sensing mechanism and the role of electrical contacts in the sensor's response.
Main Methods:
- Graphite oxide was converted into graphene dispersions using anhydrous hydrazine.
- Single-layer graphene films were fabricated on interdigitated electrode arrays via spin coating.
- Current-voltage characteristics were measured to assess sensor performance.
- Temperature dependence of the sensor response to nitrogen dioxide was studied using a micro hot plate.
Main Results:
- A straightforward and scalable fabrication method for graphene chemical sensors was successfully demonstrated.
- The sensors showed preliminary detection capabilities for NO2, NH3, and DNT.
- Sensor response was consistent with a charge transfer mechanism, with minimal influence from electrical contacts.
- Temperature dependence studies provided insights into the sensor's operational characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Chemically converted graphene dispersions offer a viable route for fabricating practical chemical sensors.
- The developed fabrication method is simple, scalable, and suitable for producing functional graphene-based sensing devices.
- Further research can optimize these sensors for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity for various analytes.
