(459e) HTL Derived Biochar and Graphene Nanoplatelets for Biosensor Applications

Bharath K Maddipudi, Vinod Amar, Hope Dosch, Anuradha Shende and Rajesh V Shende*Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701, United States of America

*Corresponding Author: Rajesh Shende, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701, United States of America (E-mail: Rajesh.Shende@sdsmt.edu)

Abstract

Biosensors with Au electrode layer immobilized with peptides are currently being developed for the detection of microbial contamination. It is anticipated that the use of a low-k dielectric layer modified with graphene will improve the sensor sensitivity. The low-k dielectric layer can be modified with the biochar derived from hydrothermal liquefaction of different biomass substrates. In this investigation, HTL of lignocellulosic substrates was performed under non-catalytic and catalytic conditions and by-products were analyzed. The biochar was thermally treated in a tubular reactor under inert environment from 400-1100^oC without any pretreatment. In other set of experiments, HTL derived biochar was acid treated and subsequently, thermal activation was performed. After the acid pretreatment and thermal treatment steps, the porosity, the specific surface area (SSA) and the morphology of the char was analyzed using BET and SEM/EDX. The char obtained after thermal treatment was combined with low-k dielectric layer and biosensor was fabricated. The sensor output was compared with the biosensor fabricated with low-k and graphene nanoplatelets. In addition, the sensor output was correlated with the char materials obtained under different thermal conditions. The results obtained on hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass substrates, characteristics of biochar before and after thermal treatment, biosensor fabrication and sensor output will be presented.