Graphene-based Sensing Platform for Chemicals and Microorganisms in Water

该提案为位于威斯康星大学密尔沃基分校的水设备和政策中心（WEP）寻求资金。基础研究的资金申请由NSF批准的征求授权，NSF 10-601。本次招标邀请I/ ucrc提交支持行业定义基础研究的提案。本项目旨在探索一种新颖、通用、低成本、可靠的基于石墨烯的传感平台，以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）的混合结构，表面装饰有探针功能化金纳米颗粒（Au NPs）。结合探针的目标试剂的电检测是通过测量设备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团队将负责新型石墨烯水传感平台的实验室开发和理解。项目成果将带来廉价、超灵敏、快速和特异的传感器，用于检测水化学物质和微生物，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进行水质监测，还可以在配水线路和使用点进行水质监测。建议的研究将广泛融入教育目标，以促进跨学科工程教育，以吸引更多代表性不足的学生，并广泛传播研究成果。通过与湖景技术学院的合作，将纳米传感器技术引入高中课堂，提供“水传感技术科学周六”，并指导学生进行科学项目，这些特别的努力激励了未被充分代表的大学预科学生。另外，通过将课程模块发布在一个高影响力的、由nsf赞助的国家学习与教学中心网站上、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以及区域科学博览会上，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.