Electro-oxidized Monolayer CVD Graphene Film Transducer for Ultrasensitive Impedimetric DNA Biosensor

We report the effect of electrochemical anodization on the properties of monolayer graphene as the main aim of this research and consequently using the resulting label-free impedimetric biosensor for DNA sequences detection. Monolayer graphene was grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with methane as precursor on copper foil, transferred onto a glassy carbon electrode and electrochemically anodized. Raman spectroscopy and X-Ray photo electron spectroscopy revealed enhancement of defect density, roughness and formation of C−O−C, C−O−H and C=O functional groups after anodization. Amine-terminated poly T probe was linked covalently to the carboxylic groups of anodized graphene by the zero-length linker to fabricate the impedance-based DNA biosensor. The anodized graphene electrode demonstrated a superior performance for electrochemical impedance detection of DNA. The DNA biosensor showed a large linear dynamic range from 2.0×10⁻¹⁸ to 1.0×10⁻¹² M with a limit of detection of 1.0×10⁻¹⁸ M using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. Equivalent circuit modeling shows that DNA hybridization is detected through a change in charge transfer resistance.