Enhanced reactivity and selective adsorption: Unveiling the potential of metal-decorated graphene membranes for biosensing

This study investigates the structural, stability, electronic, and optical properties of finite graphene membranes through a comprehensive computational analysis. The 2D membranes are constructed from hexagonal graphene quantum dots and are decorated with Co, Mn, and Ni. Stability assessments, based on binding energies, affirm the stable formation of the 2D membrane and its derivatives. Electronic investigations reveal a reduction in the energy gap upon metal decoration, indicating enhanced reactivity. Membrane studies demonstrate effective adsorption of creatinine and uric acid on both edge and surface sites, supported by negative adsorption energies. Electronic transitions and absorption spectra shifts indicate dynamic interactions, emphasizing the materials' potential for selective molecular separation. Non-covalent interaction analysis confirmed the role of van der Waals interactions in creatinine and uric acid adsorption. Overall, the findings suggest that the graphene membrane and its decorated derivatives hold promise for selective adsorption applications, especially in the context of biosensing.