Development of Biosensor Using liquid Crystal in Anodic Aluminum Oxide for the Detection of Pollutants and Pathogens

Abstract

Anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) channels can replace expensive TEM gold grids as sensing chambers for liquid crystal based sensing applications. In this project aluminum foil will be used to fabricate AAO channels via anodization because of cost effectiveness and ease of fabrication. Stepwise anodization was performed by varying the voltage and temperature to achieve the desired pore diameter for incorporation of liquid crystal in these channels for bio-sensing applications. Close-packed Nano-pores were produced by varying different process parameters of anodization process i.e. time of anodization, type of electrolyte being used, temperature of electrolyte, purity of aluminum foil and voltage being used. The next part is to grow liquid crystal molecules in those Nano-pores and use them for bio-sensing applications.