REVIEW article
Front. Sens.
Sec. Micro- and Nano- Sensors
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fsens.2025.1552969
Electrochemical and Biosensing Applications of Biochar and Biochar-Based Composites
Provisionally accepted
- University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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Biochar, a carbon-rich substance produced through biomass pyrolysis, has attracted considerable interest due to its wide-ranging applications, including in electrochemical sensing and biosensing. Their distinctive physicochemical characteristics, such as a large surface area, adjustable porosity, plentiful functional groups and outstanding electrical conductivity, render it a promising choice for electrode materials and sensor systems. The integration of biochar into composite materials alongside metals, metal oxides, polymers and nanomaterials has further augmented its electrochemical capabilities, leading to enhancements in sensitivity, selectivity and stability in sensing applications. This review offers an extensive summary of recent developments in biochar-based electrochemical sensors and biosensors, concentrating on their design, functionalization techniques and use in detecting biomolecules, environmental contaminants and electroactive species. We explore the fundamental mechanisms that drive biochar's electrochemical behavior and underscore the collaborative effects between biochar and various composite materials in boosting sensor efficiency. Furthermore, we delve into the challenges and future prospects of biochar-based sensing technologies, highlighting their potential for creating sustainable and cost-effective analytical tools.
Keywords: Nanobiochar, composites, nanomaterials, green chemistry, electrochemical sensor, Water contaminants
Received: 29 Dec 2024; Accepted: 01 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ngece-Ajayi, Tshoko, MULAUDZI-MASUKU and Iwuoha. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Rachel Fanelwa Ngece-Ajayi, fngece@uwc.ac.za
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.