Development of Biomimetic materials as platforms for sensing dopamine and nitric oxide

Abstract

Carbon nanosheets (CNS) are a new class of 2D, freestanding nanostructured materials, made up of multiple graphene layers with an intermediate structure between graphite and graphene. In addition to their excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, they also possess two particular attributes that render them as very promising electrode materials, are their flake-like structures, which result in high surface-to-volume ratio, ensuring numerous interaction points; and in contrast to the nearly inert basal planes, the edge planes contain many open graphitic layers and crystal defects, which are highly reactive. Conventionally, CNS are synthesized by either top down or bottom up methods, such as solvothermal techniques, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and chemical exfoliation. The nitrogen doped (N-doped) carbonaceous materials are particularly interesting as they are known to have higher electrocatalytic activity along with higher biocompatibility in comparison to their undoped equivalents. Nitrogen doping in carbon materials has been regarded as an effective way of tailoring their physicochemical properties, such as conductivity, catalytic activity, crystal structure as well as electronic structure of carbonaceous materials. These properties are of great significance in various application potentials, including electronic and catalytic systems as the N-doped carbons are known to exhibit exceptional electrocatalytic activity along with enhanced electrochemical stability and rapid ion transfer. newlineHowever, it is very arduous to synthesize carbon nanomaterials with high nitrogen content as well as graphitization degree at such harsh conditions as these abrasive conditions lead to elimination of N heteroatoms and collapse of carbon nanostructures. newlineRecognizing these difficulties, we for the first time reported a facile, low temperature, hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen doped graphene nanosheets (NGS), where CNS was our precursor material (chapter 2). newlineDA is a key neurotransmitter in the human central nerv