am7b04863_si_001.pdf (1.22 MB)
Laser-Induced Graphene Layers and Electrodes Prevents Microbial Fouling and Exerts Antimicrobial Action
journal contribution
posted on 2017-05-18, 19:37 authored by Swatantra
P. Singh, Yilun Li, Avraham Be’er, Yoram Oren, James M. Tour, Christopher J. ArnuschPrevention of fouling
on surfaces is a major challenge that broadly
impacts society. Water treatment technologies, hospital infrastructure,
and seawater pipes exemplify surfaces that are susceptible to biofouling.
Here we show that laser-induced graphene (LIG) printed on a polyimide
film by irradiation with a CO2 infrared laser under ambient
conditions is extremely biofilm resistant while as an electrode is
strongly antibacterial. We investigated the antibacterial activity
of the LIG surface using LIG powder in suspension or deposited on
surfaces, and its activity depended on the particle size and oxygen
content. Remarkably, the antimicrobial effects of the surface were
greatly amplified when voltages in the range of 1.1–2.5 were
applied in an electrode configuration in bacterial solutions. The
bactericidal mechanism was directly observed using microscopy and
fast photography, which showed a rapid bacterial movement toward the
LIG surface and subsequent bacterial killing. In addition, electrochemical
generation of H2O2 was observed; however, the
bacterial killing mechanism depended strongly on the physical and
electrical contact of the bacterial cells to the surfaces. The anti-biofilm
activity of the LIG surfaces and electrodes could lead to efficient
protection of surfaces that are susceptible to biofouling in environmental
applications by incorporating LIG onto the surfaces.