Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference 

October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota

High-Performance Graphene-Based Sensor Arrays for Multiplexed Detection in Harsh Environments

This work details the development of a versatile, multiplexed sensing platform engineered for environmental monitoring under extreme conditions. To overcome the sensitivity, range, and cost limitations of traditional sensors, we utilize graphene and graphene nanoribbons within a CMOS-compatible manufacturing framework. The unique, tunable properties of these nanomaterials allow for the creation of scalable, high-performance electronic circuits capable of sensitive biological and chemical detection, including the identification of rare molecules and transient chemical events with high temporal resolution. Our fabrication process involves synthesizing large-scale, high-quality graphene using a custom chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system, followed by a bubble transfer method to place the graphene onto silicon and quartz substrates. We then employed a custom-built, LED-based photolithography setup to precisely fabricate sensor arrays. The resulting graphene field-effect transistors demonstrated consistently high performance, showing high carrier mobility and low resistance in ambient testing. Current investigations are focused on further electrical characterization, functionalization of the sensor surface with various capture molecules, and a full assessment of performance metrics such as sensitivity, selectivity, limit of detection, and response time for target analytes.