A Graphene-Based Biosensor

Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, has attracted significant interest in several applications including biosensors. In this work graphene was grown by the CVD method. Optical parameters of graphene such as refractive index and extinction coefficient were measure by a mix of techniques including ellipsometer, XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, SPR and MEIS. Determining the optical properties of graphene allowed for study of its ability to sense biomolecular interactions. We also examined graphene modification by electrostatic interaction utilizing a molecule synthesized by IBM Research. Successful modification was proven by XPS, Raman Spectroscopy, and SPR. Studies of the chemical modification, along measurement of electrical and optical properties of graphene are components of our work to develop highly sensitive graphene-based sensors.