Unveiling the Sorption Properties of Graphene Oxide-M13 Bacteriophage Aerogels for Advanced Sensing and Environmental Applications

GraPhage13 aerogels (GPAs) are ultralow density, porous structures fabricated through the self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO) and M13 bacteriophage. Given GPA’s high surface area and extensive porous network, properties typically associated with highly adsorbent materials, it is essential to characterize its sorption capabilities, with a focus on unlocking its potential for advanced applications in areas such as biomedical sensing and environmental monitoring. Herein, the water, ethanol and acetone sorption properties of GPA were explored using dynamic vapor sorption (DVS). GPA was found to be highly hygroscopic, with a sorption capacity of 0.68 ± 0.02 g/g, double that of conventional desiccant silica gels and 20% higher than GO laminates. This remarkable sorption capacity, along with its sorption kinetics, was influenced by both GPA’s morphology and the strong interactions between the water molecules and the functional groups on the GO within GPA. The low hysteresis and stability of GPA during repeated sorption-desorption cycles highlight the reversibility of water sorption. While GPA shows lower capacity for ethanol and acetone, its tuneability presents opportunities for improving acetone sorption, and its ethanol sorption capacity exceeds that of similar carbon-based materials. These findings underscore GPA’s capability and versatility in vapor adsorption, paving the way toward its integration into graphene-based devices for sensing applications.