Graphene based pH microsensor networks for Blue Carbon monitoring

The rising acidity in the oceans from CO2 in the atmosphere contributes to dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the shallow surface waters. DIC can be considered as the dissolved carbon bound to oxygen in small molecules (i.e. dissolved CO2, bicarbonate and carbonate). DIC is in balance with both the atmospheric CO2 and what is termed 'Blue Carbon', which is carbon in the ocean bound up as carbon chains, plants and animals (i.e. organic carbon) in coastal and marine ecosystems. Important to this project, pH is one of the few critical parameters that can be measured continuously in rivers and oceans to observe DIC and help us control and monitor the impact and effect of our carbon emissions. Our aim is to directly address the current lack of pH sensors available that can withstand the harsh conditions of rivers and oceans by making low cost graphene materials that are sufficiently 'robust' and 'sensitive' to become the mainstream environmental sensor networks of the future. The proposal takes a problem-driven, multidisciplinary approach to develop a cost-effective solution to monitoring DIC and the impacts of carbon released into rivers and coastal waters. Our interdisciplinary team intend to advance sensors for pH measurement via focused graphene sensor development aligned with this major societal challenge, with readiness to be interfaced with leading industry-led technology.