Graphene sensors: introduction and market status
What is a sensor?
A sensor is a device that detects events that occur in the physical environment (like light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure, and more), and responds with an output, usually an electrical, mechanical or optical signal. The household mercury thermometer is a simple example of a sensor - it detects temperature and reacts with a measurable expansion of liquid. Sensors are everywhere - they can be found in everyday applications like touch-sensitive elevator buttons and lamp dimmer surfaces that respond to touch, but there are also many kinds of sensors that go unnoticed by most - like sensors that are used in medicine, robotics, aerospace and more.
Traditional kinds of sensors include temperature, pressure (thermistors, thermocouples, and more), moisture, flow (electromagnetic, positional displacement and more), movement and proximity (capacitive, photoelectric, ultrasonic and more), though innumerable other versions exist. sensors are divided into two groups: active and passive sensors. Active sensors (such as photoconductive cells or light detection sensors) require a power supply while passive ones (radiometers, film photography) do not.
Where can sensors be found?
Sensors are used in numerous applications, and can roughly be arranged in groups by forms of use:
- Accelerometers: Micro Electro Mechanical technology based sensors, used mainly in mobile devices, medicine for patient monitoring (like pacemakers) and vehicular systems.
- Biosensors: electrochemical technology based sensors, used for food and water testing, medical devices, fitness tracker and wristbands (that measure, for example, blood oxygen levels and heart rate) and military uses (biological warfare and more).
- Image sensors: CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) based sensors, used in consumer electronics, biometrics, traffic and security surveillance and PC imaging.
- Motion Detectors: sensors which can be Infrared, Ultrasonic or Microwave/Radar technology. They are used in video games, security detection and light activation.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a two-dimensional material made of carbon atoms, often dubbed miracle material for its outstanding characteristics. It is 200 times stronger than steel at one atom thick, as well as the world's most conductive material. It is so dense that the smallest atom of Helium cannot pass through it, but is also lightweight and transparent. Since its isolation in 2004, researchers and companies alike are fervently studying graphene, which is set to revolutionize various markets and produce improved processes, better performing components and new products.
Graphene and sensors
Graphene and sensors are a natural combination, as graphene's large surface-to-volume ratio, unique optical properties, excellent electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility and density, high thermal conductivity and many other attributes can be greatly beneficial for sensor functions. The large surface area of graphene is able to enhance the surface loading of desired biomolecules, and excellent conductivity and small band gap can be beneficial for conducting electrons between biomolecules and the electrode surface.
Graphene is thought to become especially widespread in biosensors and diagnostics. The large surface area of graphene can enhance the surface loading of desired biomolecules, and excellent conductivity and small band gap can be beneficial for conducting electrons between biomolecules and the electrode surface. Biosensors can be used, among other things, for the detection of a range of analytes like glucose, glutamate, cholesterol, hemoglobin and more. Graphene also has significant potential for enabling the development of electrochemical biosensors, based on direct electron transfer between the enzyme and the electrode surface.
Graphene will enable sensors that are smaller and lighter - providing endless design possibilities. They will also be more sensitive and able to detect smaller changes in matter, work more quickly and eventually even be less expensive than traditional sensors. Some graphene-based sensor designs contain a Field Effect Transistor (FET) with a graphene channel. Upon detection of the targeted analyte's binding, the current through the transistor changes, which sends a signal that can be analyzed to determine several variables.
Graphene-based nanoelectronic devices have also been researched for use in DNA sensors (for detecting nucleobases and nucleotides), Gas sensors (for detection of different gases), PH sensors, environmental contamination sensors, strain and pressure sensors, and more.
Further reading
- Introduction to graphene
- Graphene company database
- How to invest in the graphene revolution
- The Graphene Handbook, our very own guide to the graphene market
- Graphene DNA Sequencing
Laser-induced graphene on Kevlar enables multifunctional structural composites
Researchers from IMDEA Materials Institute, Polytechnic University of Madrid, University Rey Juan Carlos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and Universidad Francisco de Vitoria have developed a multifunctional fiber-reinforced polymer composite that integrates strain sensing, electromagnetic shielding and thermal management within a structural laminate.
The team fabricated laser-induced graphene (LIG) directly on Kevlar fabric via laser photothermal conversion, then incorporated this LIG@Kevlar layer into basalt fiber/biobased epoxy laminates using vacuum infusion, a process compatible with industrial-scale manufacturing. This in-situ conversion strategy avoids separate LIG films or transfer steps, helping to maintain interlaminar integrity and eliminating foreign interfaces that could otherwise weaken the composite.
Researchers develop ultra-sensitive graphene aerogel pressure sensor for flexible e-skin and wearables
Researchers from Hebei University of Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology and The Pennsylvania State University recently reported on a high-performance flexible pressure sensor based on an anisotropic reduced graphene oxide aerogel (rGOA), addressing the long-standing challenge of simultaneously achieving ultra-high sensitivity and a wide detection range in wearable and robotic sensing systems.
The device architecture integrates the rGOA sensing layer between a polyimide (PI) film with interdigital electrodes and a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) encapsulation layer. The aerogel itself is fabricated via a freeze-casting process that induces a highly ordered anisotropic structure. By controlling the freezing direction of the graphene oxide precursor, the researchers form a lamellar, porous 3D network that enables controlled deformation under pressure and efficient modulation of electrical pathways.
INBRAIN Neuroelectronics completes patient recruitment for first-in-human study evaluating its graphene cortical interface
INBRAIN Neuroelectronics has announced that it has completed patient recruitment in its first-in-human study evaluating its graphene cortical interface. A total of ten patients were recruited into its first-in-human study, and eight patients were treated surgically, with no perioperative device failure observed during use. Complete datasets were obtained from eight patients.
The study (NCT06368310), sponsored by the University of Manchester and conducted with Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, evaluated INBRAIN’s graphene-based cortical interface during neurosurgical procedures for brain tumor resection. The primary objective was to assess safety, with secondary objectives focused on signal quality, stability, stimulation capability, and suitability for intraoperative use with standard surgical tooling and recording equipment.
Graphene-carbon black-SrO sensor enables sensitive theobromine detection at neutral pH
Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU), National Taipei University of Technology and Ming Chi University of Technology have developed a nanoscale electrochemical sensor that can measure theobromine in beverages with high sensitivity and accuracy. The central concept is engineered interfacial chemistry: the material creates localized alkaline microdomains directly at the electrode surface, enabling efficient electrochemical oxidation of theobromine while the bulk solution remains at neutral pH.
The sensing layer is a ternary nanocomposite combining strontium oxide (SrO), functionalized carbon black (f‑CB) and reduced graphene oxide (r‑GO). SrO forms nanoscale alkaline domains that facilitate interfacial proton abstraction from theobromine, effectively activating this weakly electroactive molecule at neutral pH. Reduced graphene oxide provides a highly conductive, high-surface-area network and engages in π–π interactions with the heterocyclic xanthine core of theobromine, enhancing adsorption at the electrode. Functionalized carbon black strengthens cross‑nanointerface electron transfer and remains a dominant pathway for charge transport, improving overall electrochemical performance.
GRAPHERGIA project launches three demonstration cases to pilot graphene-based technologies
The Graphene Flagship project GRAPHERGIA has launched the piloting phase of its three demonstration cases implementing graphene-based technologies for energy harvesting and storage in real-life applications.
The demonstrators' development began in March 2026 and aims to validate cutting-edge solutions in smart self-charging textiles and next-generation lithium-ion batteries for applications in healthcare, aerospace, mobility, and wearable electronics.
Researchers develop graphene nanodrum and AI platform for rapid single-cell bacterial ID and antibiotic testing
Researchers from TU Delft, its spinoff company SoundCell and Reinier Haga MDC have shown that graphene “nanodrums” combined with machine learning can identify bacteria and determine their antibiotic susceptibility from the nanomotion of single cells within a couple of hours. The approach unifies bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in one label-free measurement at the single-cell level.
Each nanodrum consists of a bilayer graphene membrane less than 1 nanometer thick, suspended over an 8 micrometer-wide cavity that can host a single bacterium. When a living cell adheres to the drum, its intrinsic motions drive nanoscale vibrations of the graphene, which are read out optically as a time-dependent signal. This configuration avoids ensemble averaging and captures the mechanical behavior of individual bacteria.
Archer Materials advances silicon biochip beta prototype while reaffirming graphene as next‑generation platform
Archer Materials has provided an update on its biochip program following the completion of Stage 1 project with IMEC. The company is developing advanced semiconductor devices, including chips relevant to quantum computing, sensing, and medical diagnostics. The next phase will focus on beta prototype development, incorporating cartridge engineering, readout electronics integration, stability testing, and external user validation.
The company has selected silicon for the current prototype builds, citing faster development timelines and established manufacturing pathways. While silicon is the material of choice for the current prototype, Archer affirms that graphene remains its next-generation chip platform for future performance optimization and product expansion. The core value of Archer’s technology resides in its proprietary functionalized layer chemistry and sensing architecture, applicable across both silicon and graphene chip substrates.
Researchers develop graphene-based leaf tattoo sensor for real-time hydration monitoring
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a graphene-based electronic “leaf tattoo” that can continuously monitor plant hydration while simultaneously performing brain-like, in-sensor computation directly on living leaves.
The core of the technology is a graphene channel configured as a leaf‑gated electrochemical transistor that conforms to the surface of a live leaf without damaging tissue. The transistor’s gate is formed by the leaf itself: ions in the hydrated leaf move in response to applied electrical stimuli, modulating the channel conductance in real time.
Novel graphene transistor architecture improves sensor stability and sensitivity in liquid environments
Researchers at Penn State have developed a graphene-based field-effect transistor (GFET) architecture that improves sensor stability and sensitivity in liquid environments, marking a step toward real-time molecular detection for health, environmental, and industrial applications.
The team engineered a dual‑gate GFET that integrates a high‑κ hafnium dioxide (HfO₂) local back gate with an electrolyte top gate, coupled through a real‑time feedback control loop. This novel configuration enables capacitive signal amplification while suppressing gate leakage and low‑frequency noise - two sources of instability that have long limited the performance of conventional single‑gate GFETs used in liquid sensing.
Graphene oxide quantum dots enable biosensing of depression biomarkers
University of Delhi researchers have developed an environmentally friendly method to synthesize graphene oxide quantum dots (GO QDs) for use in ultrasensitive biosensors capable of detecting key neurological biomarkers such as dopamine and serotonin. The team’s novel approach employs citric acid as a green, biodegradable precursor, successfully producing uniform, negatively charged GO QDs with an average diameter of 23.4 nm.
The synthesized GO QDs were thoroughly characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The data confirmed the formation of pure, spherical QDs with well-defined structural integrity and optical stability, indicating precise control over quantum confinement and surface functionality.
