Carbon-based aerogels for biomedical sensing: Advances toward designing the ideal sensor

Carbon based aerogels are special solid-state materials comprised of interconnected networks of 3D nanostructures with high amount of air-filled nanoporous. They expand the structural properties along with physicochemical characteristics of nanoscale construction blocks to macroscale, and incorporate distinctive attributes of aerogels, like large surface area, high porosity, and low density, with particular features of the different constituents. These features impart aerogels with rapid response signal, high selectivity, and ultra-sensitivity for sensing diverse targets in biomedical media. This has prompted researchers to develop a variety of aerogel-based sensors with encouraging achievements. Hence, this work outlines sensing applications of aerogel-based sensors with a comprehensive overview on the carbon aerogel hybrid materials and their analytical performances. Authors tried to list advantages and limitations of the developed approach and introduced more potent research for possible devices designing. We also point out some challenges and future perspectives related to the improvement of high-efficiency aerogel-based sensors.

Automated summary

Carbon-based aerogels, with high porosity and low density, have unique attributes for sensing applications in biomedical media, offering rapid response and high selectivity. Researchers are developing various aerogel-based sensors with encouraging achievements.