Abstract

Biosurfactant Mediated Exfoliation Of Graphene Flakes And Its Application In Nanomedicine

Author(s): Fathima Mushrifa A

Graphenes are semi-transparent two-dimensional semimetal with a monolayer of carbon atoms closely packed in a honeycomb lattice arranged with Sp2 hybridized carbon atom. The zero-dimensional form of Graphene is known as Graphene flakes. They are the fragile flakes attached as sheets in the graphite layer. These Graphene flakes are peeled through exfoliation. The exfoliation done with a biosurfactant is an unusual route which connects biotechnology with nanotechnology. Surfactants might be from a natural source, animal skin, microorganisms etc. Biosurfactant is an amphiphilic compound produced by bacteria, fungi and yeast. These surfactants are surface-active compounds which reduces the interfacial tension between two liquids. Biosurfactant extracted from pseudomonas aerogenosa exfoliates Graphene flakes through ultrasonication of HOPG with glacial acidic acid and Dimethylformamide (DMF). These Biosurfactant mediated nanoflakes are characterized through the spectroscopic and microscopic method, and they possess less sensitivity towards microbial strains, confirmed through antimicrobial activity study. Since the source of microbial Biosurfactant is cheaper to collect, they can be produced in a large amount.