Graphene Properties, Synthesis and Applications: A Review

Abstract

We have evaluated some of the most recent breakthroughs in the synthesis and applications of graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials. This review includes three major categories. The first section consists of an overview of the structure and properties, including thermal, optical, and electrical transport. Recent developments in the synthesis techniques are elaborated in the second section. A number of top-down strategies for the synthesis of graphene, including exfoliation and chemical reduction of graphene oxide, are discussed. A few bottom-up synthesis methods for graphene are also covered, including thermal chemical vapor deposition, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, thermal decomposition of silicon, unzipping of carbon nanotubes, and others. The final section provides the recent innovations in graphene applications and the commercial availability of graphene-based devices.

Fig. 1

(a) SLG structure, A and B denote carbon sites, (b) BLG stacking types, (c) TLG stacking types, (d) π bond and sigma bond positions in the graphene honeycomb lattice.

Fig. 2

Band structure of (a) SLG, (b) BLG without an electric field, and (c) BLG with perpendicular electric field (reprinted with permission from Ref. 27), (d) ABA and ABC stacked TLGs under an electric field (reprinted with permission from Ref. 32), (e) band structure of ABAB stacked FLGs under an electric field (reprinted with permission from Ref. 33), (f) thermal conductivity of FLG observed as a function of the number of atomic planes (reprinted with permission from Ref. 34), (g) imaginary part of graphene's dielectric function as it has evolved at various growth temperatures (reprinted with permission from Ref. 35).

Fig. 3

(a) Graphite plasma spray exfoliation, (b) TEM images of SLG and BLG, (c–e) Raman spectra of the synthesized graphene, the basal plane and the edge of graphene flakes, (f) distribution of the thickness of graphene flakes (reprinted with permission from Ref. 83).

Fig. 4

(a) CVD furnace system, (b) Raman spectra and mapping of the produced graphene (reprinted with permission from Ref. 106), (c) roll-to-roll CVD apparatus, (d) Raman spectra, and (e) transmittance of the transferred graphene film (reprinted with permission from Ref. 108).

Fig. 5

(a, b) STM image of synthesized GNR on Au and a schematic of a graphene nanoribbon FET (reprinted with permission from Ref. 145), (c, d) device configuration of graphene transparent conducting electrode and optical transmittance comparison between indium tin oxide (ITO) and graphene (reprinted with permission from Ref. 130).

Fig. 6

(a) SEM micrographs of wear scars after tribo-corrosion experiments (G0: no GO, G1: 5 ml/l, G2: 10 ml/l, G3: 15 ml/l) (reprinted with permission from Ref. 152), (b) before and after oxidation images of bare and rG-O-coated Cu foils (reprinted with permission from Ref. 153), (c) field trial images of (A–C) virgin silicone fouling release coating formulation and (D–F) PDMS/GO-Al2O3 coating formulation after 90 days in natural marine water (reprinted with permission from Ref. 154).

Fig. 7

(a) The 2DBioFET, (b) the results of PfLDH detection in human serum by the 2DBioFET (reprinted with permission from Ref. 157), (c) schematic of the electrochemical sensing platform for COVID-19 (reprinted with permission from Ref. 160).

Fig. 8

(a) Schematic of a Li–S battery, (b) cycling stability of Li–S cells (reprinted with permission from Ref. 170), (c) cycling stability and coulombic efficiency measured at 5.2 A g⁻¹ over 10,000 cycles, (d) Ragone plot (reprinted with permission from Ref. 171).