Graphene-based Sensing Platform for Chemicals and Microorganisms in Water

该提案寻求为位于威斯康星大学密尔沃基分校的水设备与政策中心(WEP)提供资金。基础研究的资金申请由NSF批准的请愿书授权，NSF 10-601。征集邀请研究所/大学合作研究中心提交支持行业定义的基础研究的建议。该项目旨在探索一种新颖、通用、低成本和可靠的基于石墨素的传感平台，用于检测水中的各种化学物质(如硝酸盐、铅)和微生物(如大肠杆菌)。该平台基于热还原氧化石墨烯(TRGO)与探针功能化的金纳米颗粒(Au NPs)装饰的混合结构。对与探针结合的靶剂的电检测是通过测量设备的电特性的变化来完成的。拟议的项目将通过UWM和WEP成员(Badger Meter、A.O.Smith和Pentair)之间的密切合作进行。UWM团队将负责实验室开发和了解基于石墨烯的新型水传感平台。项目成果将带来廉价、超灵敏、快速和特定的传感器，用于检测含水化学品和微生物，并为WEP成员提供额外的技术优势。新的水传感器不仅可以在配水中心，而且还可以在配水线路和使用点进行水质监测。拟议的研究将广泛纳入教育目标，以促进跨学科的工程教育，以吸引更多代表不足的学生，并广泛传播研究成果。为激励人数不足的大学预科学生所做的特别努力包括通过与莱克维尤技术学院的合作将纳米传感器技术带入高中课堂，开设“水感技术科学星期六”课程，以及指导学生开展科学项目。通过在国家科学基金会赞助的高影响力国家学习和教学中心网站、与密尔沃基发现世界博物馆联合举办的纳米传感器技术展览和地区性科学博览会上张贴课程模块，将有效地向广泛的受众传播纳米传感器技术。

This proposal seeks funding for the Center for Center for Water Equipment and Policy (WEP) located at THE University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Funding Requests for Fundamental Research are authorized by an NSF approved solicitation, NSF 10-601. The solicitation invites I/UCRCs to submit proposals for support of industry-defined fundamental research. This project aims to explore a novel, generic, and low-cost, and reliable grapheme based sensing platform to detect various chemicals (e.g., nitrate, lead) and microorganisms (e.g., E. coli) in water. The platform is based on hybrid structures of thermally-reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) decorated with probe-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The electrical detection of target agents that bind to probes is accomplished by measuring changes in electrical characteristics of the device. The proposed project will be carried out through close collaboration between UWM and WEP members (Badger Meter, A. O. Smith, and Pentair). The UWM team will be responsible for laboratory development and understanding of the novel graphene-based water sensing platform. Project results will lead to inexpensive, ultrasensitive, rapid, and specific sensors for detecting aqueous chemicals and microorganisms and provide additional technological benefits to WEP members. The new water sensor will enable water quality monitoring not only at the water distribution center but also along water distribution lines and at the point of use. The proposed research will be extensively integrated into educational goals to promote interdisciplinary engineering education to attract more underrepresented students and to broadly disseminate findings. Special efforts to inspire underrepresented pre-college students include taking nanosensor technology into high school classrooms through collaboration with Lakeview Technology Academy, offering "Science Saturdays on Water Sensing Technology", and mentoring students on science projects. Additional outreach through posting the course module on a high-impact, NSF-sponsored National Center for Learning and Teaching Web site, a nanosensor technology exhibit in conjunction with the Milwaukee discovery World Museum, and regional science fairs, will effectively disseminate nanosensor technology to a wide range of audiences.