The emboiments disclose a functionalized graphene composition including a graphene material having a conjugated carbon lattice produced by a controlled functionalization process comprising at least one of plasma treatment, chemical, functionalization, silanization, or polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) functionalization, the controlled functionalization process defining a surface chemistry configured to immobilize a molecular capture element, a plurality of oxygen-containing functional groups including at least one of hydroxyl, ether, carbonyl, and carboxyl or ester groups disposed on basal planes and edge regions of the graphene material, a conductive pathway formed by the graphene material, a chemically active surface interface defined by the graphene material and the oxygen-containing functional groups, and an analytical target comprising at least one of a nucleic acid, protein, peptide, pathogen-associated biomarker, chemical compound, or biological molecule, the analytical target being capable of interacting with the chemically active surface interface to produce a corresponding electrical response.