Highly sensitive solution-gated graphene transistor based sensor for continuous and real-time detection of free chlorine

Abstract

The concentration of free chlorine used for sterilizing drinking water, recreational water, and food processing water is critical for monitoring potential environmental and human health risks, and should be strictly controlled. Here, we report a highly efficient solution-gated graphene transistor (SGGT) device, for the detection of free chlorine in a real-time and convenient manner with excellent selectivity and high sensitivity. The detection mechanism of the SGGT with Au gate electrode is attributed to two combined effects: the reduction of the free chlorine on Au gate electrode; and the direct oxidization of graphene by the free chlorine in solution. The SGGT device shows a linear response range of free chlorine from 1 μM to 100 μM, with detection limit as low as 100 nM, far beyond the sensitivity required for practical applications. Finally, we also demonstrate the performance of the SGGT for determination of free chlorine in local tap water samples. The results presented herein have important implications in the development of portable and disposable devices based on SGGT sensing platform for the simple, real-time, and selective determination of free chlorine.