Efficient Preparation and Characterization of Functional Graphene with Versatile Applicability

Graphene, as star versatile materials having extraordinarily high electric conductivity, electron mobility, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, optical transparency, and mechanical strength, has attracted much attention from scientists and engineers in the field of materials, chemistry, physics, energy, and environment in the last decade and achieved fruitful accomplishment. This review discusses preparation strategies, functionality, characterization, and applications for two dimensional nanosheet and quasi-one-dimensional nanoribbon of graphene through direct exfoliation of graphite, chemical vapor deposition of hydrocarbon, laser-induced direct synthesis of graphene, laser etched graphene oxide in the dry state without the use of toxic reducing agent hydrazine, unzipping carbon nanotube, and polycondensation of polycyclic aromatics on the basis of 178 representative references mostly in 2015. The stabilization of graphene oxide prepared in chemical preparation in 'top-down' is emphasized. Several vital classic methods of characterizing molecular structure, C/O ratio, defect, morphology, single-or few-layered (2 to 10 layers) structure, porous and hollow structures, including Raman spectroscopy, AFM, SEM, TEM, STM, electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are systematically introduced. Because graphene possesses novel incomparable multifunctionalities, its versatile applications as novel conducting additives, reinforcing filler, separation membrane, sensor, anticorrosive coating, catalyst, electromagnetic shield, lubricant, and flexible electrode materials in electrochemical and electronic devices, including photovoltaic cells, supercapacitors, rechargeable batteries, sensors, field effect transistors, light emitting diodes, separation membranes, adsorbents and absorbents, catalysts, electro-optic modulator, terahertz emitter and detector, and semiconductors, have been mentioned.Especially in the aspect of both high performance and cost-effectiveness, graphene is expected to be even superior to the expensive carbon nanotubes.