Low Cost Graphite Alternative To Fabricating Nanotechnology Biosensors

Nanowerk (9/8/2008)

Researchers from Michigan State University in the U.S. have developed a biosensor made with nanometal decorated graphene instead of more expensive carbon nanotubes. Researcher Ilsoon Lee explained, "Several previous studies have reported the application of the combination of metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes in biosensor application. But graphene has unique properties such as the highest thermal oxidation resistance and the highest degree of graphitization compared to carbon nanotube and carbon black that are widely used. Graphene also provides excellent support for nanometal catalysts. We made use of these properties by decorating exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets with platinum and palladium nanoparticles as a transducer for a glucose biosensor." The researchers report that the incorporation of the graphene into the biosensor interface resulted in a more effective electrode surface area and provided an exceptional support for the palladium and platinum nanoparticles. The researchers also tested the storage stability of the new biosensors and report that they maintained 70 percent of their sensitivity after one month of dry storage at 4 degrees Celsius and 50 percent after 2 months. According to the article, the researchers, in a previous study, demonstrated that graphene can potentially be a lower cost alternative to carbon nanotubes for biosensor applications, at a price of about US$10 per kilogram. The article says that “[t]he combination of high performance and inexpensive nanomaterial components – much less expensive than carbon nanotubes – suggests that this approach may be very suitable for commercial applications.”

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Source: Nanowerk