Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Graphene: Insights of its Application
in Electrochemical Biosensors for
Environmental Monitoring
G.A. Álvarez-Romero
1
, G. Alarcon-Angeles
2
and A. Merkoçi
3
*
1
Autonomous University of State of Hidalgo, Academic Area of Chemistry,
Hidalgo, Mexico
2
Metropolitan Autonomous University, Xochimilco Department of Biological
Systems Mexico City, Mexico
3
ICREA and Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group, Catalan Institute of
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), Barcelona, Spain
Abstract
Due to their advantages over common analytical techniques, interest in using elec-
trochemical sensors for monitoring chemical species of environmental interest has
risen in recent years. Nanomaterials for electrochemical sensing have proved to be
very useful in the development of novel tools for environment pollution monitor-
ing. Graphene (GR), in particular, has been recognized as a promising material
for the modii cation of electrodes used as (bio)sensors due to its unique chemical,
physical and mechanical properties. Selectivity and/or specii city of (bio)sensors
has been improved using electrodes modii ed with various receptors. In literature,
there has been reported some scientii c research towards electrochemical sensors
based on GR, which makes these devices promising for monitoring environmental
contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, phenol compounds, among others.
In this chapter we describe the advances on the construction of electrochemical
(bio)sensors based on GR for the monitoring of chemical compounds of environ-
mental interest.
1
Some of the information presented has been adapted from chapter 3. Graphene and
Carbon Nanotube-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for Environmental Monitoring,
Ashutosh Tiwari and S.K. Shukla (eds.) Advanced Carbon Materials and Technology,
