Graphene has attracted tremendous research interest in recent years, owing to its exceptional properties. The scaled-up and reliable production of graphene derivatives, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), offers a wide range of possibilities to synthesize graphene-based functional materials for various applications. This critical review presents and discusses the current development of graphene-based composites. After introduction of the synthesis methods for graphene and its derivatives as well as their properties, we focus on the description of various methods to synthesize graphene-based composites, especially those with functional polymers and inorganic nanostructures. Particular emphasis is placed on strategies for the optimization of composite properties. Lastly, the advantages of graphene-based composites in applications such as the Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, photovoltaic devices, photocatalysis, as well as Raman enhancement are described (279 references).

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Graphene-based composites

Recent advances in graphene based polymer composites

http://staff.ulsu.ru/moliver/ref/polymers/pott11.pdf

Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites

Graphene, a two-dimensional, single-layer sheet of sp(2) hybridized carbon atoms, has attracted tremendous attention and research interest, owing to its exceptional physical properties, such as high electronic conductivity, good thermal stability, and excellent mechanical strength. Other forms of graphene-related materials, including graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and exfoliated graphite, have been reliably produced in large scale. The promising properties together with the ease of processibility and functionalization make graphene-based materials ideal candidates for incorporation into a variety of functional materials. Importantly, graphene and its derivatives have been explored in a wide range of applications, such as electronic and photonic devices, clean energy, and sensors. In this review, after a general introduction to graphene and its derivatives, the synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of graphene-based materials are discussed.

Graphene-Based Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties, and Applications

https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/768408.pdf

Mechanical properties of graphene and graphene-based nanocomposites

Electrically conductive polyethylene terephthalate/graphene nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding

The process of cell nucleation and growth in polycarbonate (PC)/polystyrene (PS) blends was investigated by altering the foaming temperature. It was found that cell nucleation and growth first took place in PS droplets. Microcellular samples with the average cell size of 2.4–8.4 µm, cell density of 3.20 × 109–9.68 × 1010 cells/cm3 have been prepared under a very low saturation pressure, and the effect of blend morphology on the foaming of PC/PS blends with different blend ratios has been also studied. The experiment results showed that the cell sizes and the cell densities of PC/PS foams were controlled by changing the blend ratio.

The Microcellular Foaming of Polycarbonate/Polystyrene Blends

High specific surface area graphene nanosheets have been obtained from graphite oxide by using an effective modified exfoliation method under vacuum, the exfoliation temperature (135 degrees C) is much lower than that conventionally applied (1050 degrees C) to obtain monolayer graphene sheets via rapid thermal shock. These products have fluffy and highly porous structure and with a lateral size typically of a few micrometers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation shows that it looks like a wrinkled transparent ultrathin film consisting of single or few-layer graphene sheets, and their Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area is as large as 750 m2/g. Simultaneously, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that considerable amount of oxygen-containing groups (C/O ratio, 5:1) retained on the graphene sheets after exfoliation process, which would provide convenience for further modification of the surface properties and chemistry of graphene sheets. This work offers a facile and scalable approach to fabricate graphene oxide and opens up a new vista of various potential applications electronics and composite materials.

Yong Yang

Papers

Electrically conductive polyethylene terephthalate/graphene nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding

The Microcellular Foaming of Polycarbonate/Polystyrene Blends

A facile approach to the synthesis of graphene nanosheets under ultra-low exfoliation temperature.