Oxidative-exfoliation methods were in vogue in the production of rGO from graphite.Processing of such synthetic graphite needs high temperatures(2500℃).Thus,such process is not cost-effective.The present study is mad...Oxidative-exfoliation methods were in vogue in the production of rGO from graphite.Processing of such synthetic graphite needs high temperatures(2500℃).Thus,such process is not cost-effective.The present study is made on the dry leaves of sugarcane(Saccharum officinarum)as an alternative raw material so as to be economical and environmentally benign.The dry leaves are subjected to two-step pyrolysis without any catalyst or reducing agent in far divergent temperatures to produce as prepared and acid treated rGOs.They were evaluated by UV–Vis.,FTIR,XRD,Raman spectroscopy,TGA/DTG,BET,FESEM-EDS and TEM.The as prepared rGO has few layers with irregular and folded architecture whereas acid-treated rGO has thinly stacked crumpled sheets with many wrinkles on its surface.The prepared rGOs have multilayered graphitic structure due to the unique ratio between G and D bands.Acid treated rGO has poor thermal stability as compared to that of as-prepared rGO at high temperatures due to the variation in the oxygen-containing functional groups.Acid treated rGO has low antibacterial activity as compared to that of the as-prepared rGO due to the paucity of the functional groups.展开更多
Three-dimensional(3D)porous absorbents have attracted significant attention in the oily wastewater treatment technology due to their high porosity and elasticity.Given their amphiphilic surface,they have a propensity ...Three-dimensional(3D)porous absorbents have attracted significant attention in the oily wastewater treatment technology due to their high porosity and elasticity.Given their amphiphilic surface,they have a propensity to simultaneously absorb water and oil,which restricts their range of applications.In this study,a reduced graphene oxide and titanium dioxide nanocomposite(rGO/TiO_(2))was used to fabricate an ultra-hydrophobic melamine sponge(MS)through interfacial modification using a solution immersion technique.To further modify it,poly-dimethylsiloxane(PDMS)was grafted onto its surface to establish stronger covalent bonds with the composite.The water contact angle of the sponge(rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS)was 164.2°,which satisfies the condition for ultrahydrophobicity.The evidence of its water repellency was demonstrated by the Cassie-Baxter theory and the lotus leaf effect.As a result of the increased density of rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS,it recorded an initial capacity that was 2 g/g lower than the raw MS for crude oil absorption.The raw MS retained 53% of its initial absorption capacity after 20 cycles of absorption,while rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS retained 97%,suggesting good recyclability.Excellent oil and organic solvent recovery(90%-96%)was demonstrated by rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS in oil-water combinations.In a continuous separation system,it achieved a remarkable separation efficiency of 2.4×10^(6)L/(m^(3)·h),and in turbulent emulsion separation,it achieved a demulsification efficiency of 90%-91%.This study provides a practical substitute for massive oil spill cleaning.展开更多
Considering the serious electromagnetic wave(EMW)pollution problems and complex application condition,there is a pressing need to amalgamate multiple functionalities within a single substance.However,the effective int...Considering the serious electromagnetic wave(EMW)pollution problems and complex application condition,there is a pressing need to amalgamate multiple functionalities within a single substance.However,the effective integration of diverse functions into designed EMW absorption materials still faces the huge challenges.Herein,reduced graphene oxide/carbon foams(RGO/CFs)with two-dimensional/three-dimensional(2D/3D)van der Waals(vdWs)heterostructures were meticulously engineered and synthesized utilizing an efficient methodology involving freeze-drying,immersing absorption,secondary freeze-drying,followed by carbonization treatment.Thanks to their excellent linkage effect of amplified dielectric loss and optimized impedance matching,the designed 2D/3D RGO/CFs vdWs heterostructures demonstrated commendable EMW absorption performances,achieving a broad absorption bandwidth of 6.2 GHz and a reflection loss of-50.58 dB with the low matching thicknesses.Furthermore,the obtained 2D/3D RGO/CFs vdWs heterostructures also displayed the significant radar stealth properties,good corrosion resistance performances as well as outstanding thermal insulation capabilities,displaying the great potential in complex and variable environments.Accordingly,this work not only demonstrated a straightforward method for fabricating 2D/3D vdWs heterostructures,but also outlined a powerful mixeddimensional assembly strategy for engineering multifunctional foams for electromagnetic protection,aerospace and other complex conditions.展开更多
The bioreduction of graphene oxide(GO)using environmentally functional bacteria such as Shewanella represents a green approach to produce reduced graphene oxide(rGO).This process differs from the chemical reduction th...The bioreduction of graphene oxide(GO)using environmentally functional bacteria such as Shewanella represents a green approach to produce reduced graphene oxide(rGO).This process differs from the chemical reduction that involves instantaneous molecular reactions.In bioreduction,the contact of bacterial cells and GO is considered the rate-limiting step.To reveal how the bacteria-GO integration regulates rGO production,the comparative experiments of GO and three Shewanella strains were carried out.Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the reduction degree and the aggregation degree.The results showed that a spontaneous aggregation of GO and Shewanella into the condensed entity occurred within 36 h.A positive linear correlation was established,linking three indexes of the aggregation potential,the bacterial reduction ability,and the reduction degree(ID/IG)comprehensively.展开更多
We previously combined reduced graphene oxide(rGO)with gelatin-methacryloyl(GelMA)and polycaprolactone(PCL)to create an rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduit and found that the conductivity and biocompatibility were improved.Ho...We previously combined reduced graphene oxide(rGO)with gelatin-methacryloyl(GelMA)and polycaprolactone(PCL)to create an rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduit and found that the conductivity and biocompatibility were improved.However,the rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits differed greatly from autologous nerve transplants in their ability to promote the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves and axonal sprouting.Extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can be loaded into rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits for repair of rat sciatic nerve injury because they can promote angiogenesis at the injured site.In this study,12 weeks after surgery,sciatic nerve function was measured by electrophysiology and sciatic nerve function index,and myelin sheath and axon regeneration were observed by electron microscopy,immunohistochemistry,and immunofluorescence.The regeneration of microvessel was observed by immunofluorescence.Our results showed that rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits loaded with BMSC-derived extracellular vesicles were superior to rGO-GelMA-PCL conduits alone in their ability to increase the number of newly formed vessels and axonal sprouts at the injury site as well as the recovery of neurological function.These findings indicate that rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits loaded with BMSC-derived extracellular vesicles can promote peripheral nerve regeneration and neurological function recovery,and provide a new direction for the curation of peripheral nerve defect in the clinic.展开更多
Reduced graphene oxide(rGO)aerogels are emerging as very attractive scaffolds for high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption materials(EWAMs)due to their intrinsic conductive networks and intricate interior micr...Reduced graphene oxide(rGO)aerogels are emerging as very attractive scaffolds for high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption materials(EWAMs)due to their intrinsic conductive networks and intricate interior microstructure,as well as good compatibility with other electromagnetic(EM)components.Herein,we realized the decoration of rGO aerogel with Mo_(2)C nanoparticles by sequential hydrothermal assembly,freeze-drying,and high-temperature pyrolysis.Results show that Mo_(2)C nanoparticle loading can be easily controlled by the ammonium molybdate to glucose molar ratio.The hydrophobicity and thermal insulation of the rGO aerogel are effectively improved upon the introduction of Mo_(2)C nanoparticles,and more importantly,these nanoparticles regulate the EM properties of the rGO aerogel to a large extent.Although more Mo_(2)C nanoparticles may decrease the overall attenuation ability of the rGO aerogel,they bring much better impedance matching.At a molar ratio of 1:1,a desirable balance between attenuation ability and impedance matching is observed.In this context,the Mo_(2)C/r GO aerogel displays strong reflection loss and broad response bandwidth,even with a small applied thickness(1.7 mm)and low filler loading(9.0wt%).The positive effects of Mo_(2)C nanoparticles on multifunctional properties may render Mo_(2)C/r GO aerogels promising candidates for high-performance EWAMs under harsh conditions.展开更多
Practical applications of diverse flexible wearable electronics require electrochemical energy storage(EES)devices with multiple configurations.Moreover,to fabricate flexible EES devices with high energy density and s...Practical applications of diverse flexible wearable electronics require electrochemical energy storage(EES)devices with multiple configurations.Moreover,to fabricate flexible EES devices with high energy density and stability,organic integration from electrode design to device assembly is required.To address these challenges,a free-standing reduced graphene oxide(rGO)/carbon film with a unique sandwich structure has been designed via the assistance of vacuum-assistant filtration for lithium-ion capacitors(LICs).The graphene acts as not only a binder to construct a three-dimensional conductive network but also an active material to provide additional capacitive lithium storage sites,thus enabling fast ion/electron transport and improving the capacity.The designed rGO/hard carbon(rGO/HC)and rGO/activated carbon(rGO/AC)free-standing films exhibit enhanced specific capacities(513.7 mA h g^(-1)for rGO/HC and 102.8 mA h g^(-1)for rGO/AC)and excellent stability.Moreover,the integrated flexible quasi-solid-state rGO/AC//rGO/HC LIC devices possess a maximum energy density of 138.3 Wh kg^(-1),a high power density of 11 kW kg^(-1),and improved cycling performance(84.4%capacitance maintained after 10,000 cycles),superior to the AC//HC LIC(43.5%retention).Such a strategy enlightens the development of portable flexible LICs.展开更多
Promising room-temperature sodium-sulfur(RT Na-S)battery systems rely on purposely designed highperforming and low-cost electrode materials.Nevertheless,there are the challenges of irreversible dissolution and slow re...Promising room-temperature sodium-sulfur(RT Na-S)battery systems rely on purposely designed highperforming and low-cost electrode materials.Nevertheless,there are the challenges of irreversible dissolution and slow redox kinetics of NaPSs in the complete discharge of sulfur capacity.Herein,engineered CoMoO_(4)in reduced graphene oxide(CoMoO_(4)@rGO)is reported as a class of superior cathode hosts for RT Na-S batteries.The CoMoO_(4)@rGO matrix is designed to facilitate the reversible sodiation and desodiation of sulfur,considering the strong chemisorption between sulfur(and short-chain sodium sulfides)and CoMoO_(4),which alleviates the shuttle effect of sodium sulfides and accelerates the electrochemical reaction rate at RT.The obtained S/CoMoO_(4)@rGO cathode with~52%S loading exhibits a high capacity of520.1 mA h g^(-1)after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g^(-1).Moreover,an enhanced long-term performance at high current densities(212.2 mA h g^(-1)at 4 A g^(-1)over 1000 cycles)with high Coulombic efficiency(~100%)is also achieved.This work demonstrates a novel multifunctional additive for RT Na-S battery cathodes,which is expected to promote the long-waited development towards practical applications of RT Na-S batteries.展开更多
In this study,three-dimensional porous magnesium ferrite/titanium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide(Mg Fe_2O_(4)-GM/TiO_(2)/rGO(MGTG))was successfully synthesized via green and hydrothermal-supported co-precipitation met...In this study,three-dimensional porous magnesium ferrite/titanium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide(Mg Fe_2O_(4)-GM/TiO_(2)/rGO(MGTG))was successfully synthesized via green and hydrothermal-supported co-precipitation methods using the extract of Garcinia mangostana(G.mangostana)as a reducing agent.The characterization results indicate the successful formation of the nano/micro Mg Fe_(2)O_(4)(MFO)and TiO_(2) on the structure of the reduced graphene oxide(rGO),which can also act as efficient support,alleviating the agglomeration of the nano/micro MFO and TiO_(2).The synergic effects of the adsorption and photodegradation activity of the material were investigated according to the removal of crystal violet(CV)under ultraviolet light.The effects of catalyst dosage,CV concentration,and p H on the CV removal efficiency of the MGTG were also investigated.According to the results,the CV photodegradation of the MGTG-200 corresponded to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.The reusability of the material after 10 cycles also showed a removal efficiency of 92%.This happened because the materials can easily be recollected using external magnets.In addition,according to the effects of different free radicals·O_(2)^(-),h^(+),and·OH on the photodegradation process,the photocatalysis mechanism of the MGTG was also thoroughly suggested.The antibacterial efficiency of the MGTG was also evaluated according to the inhibition of the Gram-positive bacteria strain Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus).Concurrently,the antibacterial mechanism of the fabricated material was also proposed.These results confirm that the prepared material can be potentially employed in a wide range of applications,including wastewater treatment and antibacterial activity.展开更多
Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries can provide far higher energy density than currently commercialized lithium ion batteries, but challenges remain before it they are used in practice.One of the challenges is the shuttle ...Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries can provide far higher energy density than currently commercialized lithium ion batteries, but challenges remain before it they are used in practice.One of the challenges is the shuttle effect that originates from soluble intermediates, like lithium polysulfides. To address this issue, we report a novel laminar composite, N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan-reduced graphene oxide(CC-rGO), which is manufactured via the self-assembly of CC onto GO and subsequent reduction of GO under an extreme condition of 1 Pa and-50°C. The synthesized laminar CC-rGO composite is mixed with acetylene black(AB) and coated on a commercial polypropylene(PP) membrane, resulting in a separator(CC-rGO/AB/PP) that can not only completely suppress the polysulfides penetration, but also can accelerate the lithium ion transportation, providing a Li-S battery with excellent cyclic stability and rate capability. As confirmed by theoretic simulations, this unique feature of CC-rGO is attributed to its strong repulsive interaction to polysulfide anions and its benefit for fast lithium ion transportation through the paths paved by the heteroatoms in CC.展开更多
Over the span of years, improvements over various synthesis methods of graphene are constantly pursued to provide safer and more effective alternatives. Though the extraction of graphene through Hummers method is one ...Over the span of years, improvements over various synthesis methods of graphene are constantly pursued to provide safer and more effective alternatives. Though the extraction of graphene through Hummers method is one of the oldest techniques yet it is one of the most suitable methods for the formation of bulk graphene. Graphene can be obtained in the form of reduced Graphite oxide, sometimes also referred as Graphene oxide. The effectiveness of this oxidation process can be evaluated by the magnitude of carbon/oxygen ratio of the obtained graphene. Here, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by oxidizing the purified natural flake graphite (NFG) by a modified Hummers method. The attempts have been made to synthesize GO having few layers by using a modified Hummers method where the amount of NaNO3 has been decreased, and the amount of KMnO4 is increased. The reaction has been performed in a 9:1 (by volume) mixture of H2SO4/H3PO4. This modification is successful in increasing the reaction yield and reducing the toxic gas evolution while using a varied proportion of KMnO4 and H2SO4 as those required by Hummers method. A new component of K2S2O8 has been introduced to the reaction system to maintain the pH value. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was thereafter extracted by thermal modification of GO. Here, GO has been used as a precursor for graphene synthesis by thermal reduction processes. The results of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analysis show that the NFG when oxidized by strong oxidants like KMnO4 and NaNO3, introduced oxygen atoms into the graphite layers and formed bonds like C=O, C-H, COOH and C-O-C with the carbon atoms in the graphite layers. The structure and morphology of both GO and rGO were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).展开更多
Magnesium(Mg) has attracted wide interest in orthopedic applications as they exhibit great biodegradability and strong biocompatibility,while corrosion is the main concern for Mg that should be addressed prior to biom...Magnesium(Mg) has attracted wide interest in orthopedic applications as they exhibit great biodegradability and strong biocompatibility,while corrosion is the main concern for Mg that should be addressed prior to biomedical applications. In this work, ZM31(Mg-3Zn-1Mn)/x RGO(x = 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt%) biocomposites were synthesized by semi-powder metallurgy method. The results showed that the RGO acting as an effective reinforcing filler to prevent deformation and showed better compressive strength(282.3 ± 9 MPa) and revealed enhancement in failure Strain(7.8 ± 2.1%) at 1 wt% RGO concentration compared to Mg alloy(244.5 ± 9 MPa and 7.1 ± 1.5%respectively). Moreover, fracture analysis indicated a more ductile fracture of the nanocomposites after the incorporation of RGO. Crack bridging, crack deflection and crack branching are dominant mechanisms for reinforcement of Mg-based containing RGO. Mg composites containing 0.5 wt% RGO showed a low corrosion rate(2.75 mm/year), while more incorporation of RGO resulted in an increased corrosion rate(4.38 mm/year). In addition, the degradation rate of ZM31 alloy(2.57 mg·cm-2·d-1) obviously decreased with the addition of 0.5 wt%RGO(1.84 mg·cm-2·d-1) in the SBF. Besides, continuous apatite layers were created on the composites in the SBF solution. Also, the cell culture examinations showed good cell viability and adhesion on composites with 0.5 and 1 wt% RGO, which was demonstrated by the SEM and MTT assay The alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity of the ZM3–0.5RGO composite was considerably higher than that of ZM31matrix alloy in 24 h and 48 h, implying higher osteoblastic differentiation. The antibacterial behavior toward both bacteria(E. coli and S.aureus) exhibited that escalating RGO concentration in Mg-matrix composites leads to further inhibition of bacteria growth. These findings suggested that ZM31–0.5RGO biocomposite could be a more promising candidate for orthopedic implants.展开更多
The modified Hummers method was employed to generate graphene oxide,and Ag /reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were synthesized at different temperatures by using sodium citrate as the reductant. Scanning ele...The modified Hummers method was employed to generate graphene oxide,and Ag /reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were synthesized at different temperatures by using sodium citrate as the reductant. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM),transmission electron microscopy (TEM),X-ray diffraction (XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the reaction products. The results indicate that RGO has been synthesized successfully,and Ag particles are distributed evenly on the surface of RGO.The RGO prepared at a reaction temperature of 120℃ shows the best surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity.The Ag /RGO nanocomposites modified by 10^- 5 mol /L 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) successfully detect a 10^- 5 mol /L 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) alcohol solution.展开更多
A facile way was used to synthesize Cu2O/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with octahedron-like morphology in aqueous solution without any surfactant. TEM images of the obtained Cu2O/rGOs reveal that the Cu2O ...A facile way was used to synthesize Cu2O/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with octahedron-like morphology in aqueous solution without any surfactant. TEM images of the obtained Cu2O/rGOs reveal that the Cu2O particles and rGO distribute hierarchically and the primary Cu2O particles are encapsulated well in the graphene nanosheets. The electrochemical performance of Cu2O/rGOs is enhanced compared with bare Cu2O when they are employed as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The Cu2O/rGO composites maintain a reversible capacity of 348.4 mA?h/g after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA/g. In addition, the composites retain 305.8 mA?h/g after 60 cycles at various current densities of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mA/g.展开更多
Photocatalysis is regarded as an ideal technology for solving the urgent environmental and energy issues that we face today.Among the reported photocatalysts,molybdenum disulfide(MoS2) is very promising for applicat...Photocatalysis is regarded as an ideal technology for solving the urgent environmental and energy issues that we face today.Among the reported photocatalysts,molybdenum disulfide(MoS2) is very promising for applications in hydrogen production and pollutant photodegradation.However,its lack of active sites and the difficulty of recovering catalysts in powder form have hindered its wide application.Here,we report the successful preparation of a macroscopic visible-light responsive MoS2/reduced graphene oxide(MoS2/RGO) aerogel.The obtained MoS2/RGO aerogel exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen production and photoreduction of Cr(Ⅵ) in comparison with the MoS2 powder.In addition,the low density(56.1 mg/cm^3) of the MoS2/RGO aerogel enables it to be used as an efficient adsorption material for organic pollutants.Our results demonstrate that this very promising multifunctional aerogel has potential applications in environmental remediation and clean energy production.展开更多
An electrochemically reduced graphene oxide sample, ERGO_0.8v, was prepared by electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) at -0.8 V, which shows unique electrocatalytic activity toward tetracycline (TTC) det...An electrochemically reduced graphene oxide sample, ERGO_0.8v, was prepared by electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) at -0.8 V, which shows unique electrocatalytic activity toward tetracycline (TTC) detection compared to the ERGO-12v (GO applied to a negative potential of-1.2 V), GO, chemically reduced GO (CRGO)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GC) and bare GC electrodes. The redox peaks of TTC on an ERGO-0.8v-modifled glass carbon electrode (GC/ERGO-0.8v) were within 0-0.5 V in a pH 3.0 buffer solution with the oxidation peak current correlating well with TTC concentration over a wide range from 0.1 to 160 mg/L Physical characterizations with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS) demonstrated that the oxygen-containing functional groups on GO diminished after the electrochemical reduction at -0.8 V, yet still existed in large amounts, and the defect density changed as new sp2 domains were formed. These changes demonstrated that this adjustment in the number of oxygen-containing groups might be the main factor affecting the electrocatalytic behavior of ERGO. Additionally, the defect density and sp2 domains also exert a profound influence on this behavior. A possible mechanism for the TTC redox reaction at the GC/ERGO-0.8v electrode is also presented. This work suggests that the electrochemical reduction is an effective method to establish new catalytic activities of GO by setting appropriate parameters.展开更多
The main bottleneck against industrial utilization of sodium ion batteries(SIBs)is the lack of high-capacity electrodes to rival those of the benchmark lithium ion batteries(LIBs).Here in this work,we have developed a...The main bottleneck against industrial utilization of sodium ion batteries(SIBs)is the lack of high-capacity electrodes to rival those of the benchmark lithium ion batteries(LIBs).Here in this work,we have developed an economical method for in situ fabrication of nanocomposites made of crystalline few-layer graphene sheets loaded with ultrafine SnO_(2)nanocrystals,using short exposure of microwave to xerogel of graphene oxide(GO)and tin tetrachloride containing minute catalyzing dispersoids of chemically reduced GO(RGO).The resultant nanocomposites(SnO_(2)@MWG)enabled significantly quickened redox processes as SIB anode,which led to remarkable full anode-specific capacity reaching 538 mAh g^(−1)at 0.05 A g^(−1)(about 1.45 times of the theoretical capacity of graphite for the LIB),in addition to outstanding rate performance over prolonged charge–discharge cycling.Anodes based on the optimized SnO_(2)@MWG delivered stable performance over 2000 cycles even at a high current density of 5 A g^(−1),and capacity retention of over 70.4%was maintained at a high areal loading of 3.4 mg cm^(−2),highly desirable for high energy density SIBs to rival the current benchmark LIBs.展开更多
Thanks to their remarkable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and barrier properties, graphene-based nanocomposites have been a hot area of research in the past decade. Because of their simple top-down synthesis, graphe...Thanks to their remarkable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and barrier properties, graphene-based nanocomposites have been a hot area of research in the past decade. Because of their simple top-down synthesis, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have opened new possibilities for gas barrier, membrane separation, and stimuli-response characteristics in nanocomposites. Herein, we review the synthesis techniques most commonly used to produce these graphene derivatives, discuss how synthesis affects their key material properties, and highlight some examples of nanocomposites with unique and impressive properties. We specifically highlight their performances in separation applications, stimuli-responsive materials, anti-corrosion coatings, and energy storage. Finally, we discuss the outlook and remaining challenges in the field of practical industrial-scale production and use of graphene-derivative-based polymer nanocomposites.展开更多
文摘Oxidative-exfoliation methods were in vogue in the production of rGO from graphite.Processing of such synthetic graphite needs high temperatures(2500℃).Thus,such process is not cost-effective.The present study is made on the dry leaves of sugarcane(Saccharum officinarum)as an alternative raw material so as to be economical and environmentally benign.The dry leaves are subjected to two-step pyrolysis without any catalyst or reducing agent in far divergent temperatures to produce as prepared and acid treated rGOs.They were evaluated by UV–Vis.,FTIR,XRD,Raman spectroscopy,TGA/DTG,BET,FESEM-EDS and TEM.The as prepared rGO has few layers with irregular and folded architecture whereas acid-treated rGO has thinly stacked crumpled sheets with many wrinkles on its surface.The prepared rGOs have multilayered graphitic structure due to the unique ratio between G and D bands.Acid treated rGO has poor thermal stability as compared to that of as-prepared rGO at high temperatures due to the variation in the oxygen-containing functional groups.Acid treated rGO has low antibacterial activity as compared to that of the as-prepared rGO due to the paucity of the functional groups.
基金supported by the Universiti Brunei Darussalam Research Funding(Grant No.UBD/OAVCRI/CRGWG(022)/171001).
文摘Three-dimensional(3D)porous absorbents have attracted significant attention in the oily wastewater treatment technology due to their high porosity and elasticity.Given their amphiphilic surface,they have a propensity to simultaneously absorb water and oil,which restricts their range of applications.In this study,a reduced graphene oxide and titanium dioxide nanocomposite(rGO/TiO_(2))was used to fabricate an ultra-hydrophobic melamine sponge(MS)through interfacial modification using a solution immersion technique.To further modify it,poly-dimethylsiloxane(PDMS)was grafted onto its surface to establish stronger covalent bonds with the composite.The water contact angle of the sponge(rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS)was 164.2°,which satisfies the condition for ultrahydrophobicity.The evidence of its water repellency was demonstrated by the Cassie-Baxter theory and the lotus leaf effect.As a result of the increased density of rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS,it recorded an initial capacity that was 2 g/g lower than the raw MS for crude oil absorption.The raw MS retained 53% of its initial absorption capacity after 20 cycles of absorption,while rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS retained 97%,suggesting good recyclability.Excellent oil and organic solvent recovery(90%-96%)was demonstrated by rGO/TiO_(2)/PDMS/MS in oil-water combinations.In a continuous separation system,it achieved a remarkable separation efficiency of 2.4×10^(6)L/(m^(3)·h),and in turbulent emulsion separation,it achieved a demulsification efficiency of 90%-91%.This study provides a practical substitute for massive oil spill cleaning.
基金provided by Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects for Platform and Talent Team Plan(GCC[2023]007)Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation(171095)National Natural Science Foundation of China(11964006).
文摘Considering the serious electromagnetic wave(EMW)pollution problems and complex application condition,there is a pressing need to amalgamate multiple functionalities within a single substance.However,the effective integration of diverse functions into designed EMW absorption materials still faces the huge challenges.Herein,reduced graphene oxide/carbon foams(RGO/CFs)with two-dimensional/three-dimensional(2D/3D)van der Waals(vdWs)heterostructures were meticulously engineered and synthesized utilizing an efficient methodology involving freeze-drying,immersing absorption,secondary freeze-drying,followed by carbonization treatment.Thanks to their excellent linkage effect of amplified dielectric loss and optimized impedance matching,the designed 2D/3D RGO/CFs vdWs heterostructures demonstrated commendable EMW absorption performances,achieving a broad absorption bandwidth of 6.2 GHz and a reflection loss of-50.58 dB with the low matching thicknesses.Furthermore,the obtained 2D/3D RGO/CFs vdWs heterostructures also displayed the significant radar stealth properties,good corrosion resistance performances as well as outstanding thermal insulation capabilities,displaying the great potential in complex and variable environments.Accordingly,this work not only demonstrated a straightforward method for fabricating 2D/3D vdWs heterostructures,but also outlined a powerful mixeddimensional assembly strategy for engineering multifunctional foams for electromagnetic protection,aerospace and other complex conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22178293)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China(2022J01022)。
文摘The bioreduction of graphene oxide(GO)using environmentally functional bacteria such as Shewanella represents a green approach to produce reduced graphene oxide(rGO).This process differs from the chemical reduction that involves instantaneous molecular reactions.In bioreduction,the contact of bacterial cells and GO is considered the rate-limiting step.To reveal how the bacteria-GO integration regulates rGO production,the comparative experiments of GO and three Shewanella strains were carried out.Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the reduction degree and the aggregation degree.The results showed that a spontaneous aggregation of GO and Shewanella into the condensed entity occurred within 36 h.A positive linear correlation was established,linking three indexes of the aggregation potential,the bacterial reduction ability,and the reduction degree(ID/IG)comprehensively.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31671248the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing, No. 7222198 (both to NH)
文摘We previously combined reduced graphene oxide(rGO)with gelatin-methacryloyl(GelMA)and polycaprolactone(PCL)to create an rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduit and found that the conductivity and biocompatibility were improved.However,the rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits differed greatly from autologous nerve transplants in their ability to promote the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves and axonal sprouting.Extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can be loaded into rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits for repair of rat sciatic nerve injury because they can promote angiogenesis at the injured site.In this study,12 weeks after surgery,sciatic nerve function was measured by electrophysiology and sciatic nerve function index,and myelin sheath and axon regeneration were observed by electron microscopy,immunohistochemistry,and immunofluorescence.The regeneration of microvessel was observed by immunofluorescence.Our results showed that rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits loaded with BMSC-derived extracellular vesicles were superior to rGO-GelMA-PCL conduits alone in their ability to increase the number of newly formed vessels and axonal sprouts at the injury site as well as the recovery of neurological function.These findings indicate that rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits loaded with BMSC-derived extracellular vesicles can promote peripheral nerve regeneration and neurological function recovery,and provide a new direction for the curation of peripheral nerve defect in the clinic.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2021MD703944)the Fund of Science and Technology on Near-Surface Detection Laboratory(No.6142414211808)+1 种基金the Director Fund of State Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power Laser Technology(No.SKL2021ZR06)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21776053)。
文摘Reduced graphene oxide(rGO)aerogels are emerging as very attractive scaffolds for high-performance electromagnetic wave absorption materials(EWAMs)due to their intrinsic conductive networks and intricate interior microstructure,as well as good compatibility with other electromagnetic(EM)components.Herein,we realized the decoration of rGO aerogel with Mo_(2)C nanoparticles by sequential hydrothermal assembly,freeze-drying,and high-temperature pyrolysis.Results show that Mo_(2)C nanoparticle loading can be easily controlled by the ammonium molybdate to glucose molar ratio.The hydrophobicity and thermal insulation of the rGO aerogel are effectively improved upon the introduction of Mo_(2)C nanoparticles,and more importantly,these nanoparticles regulate the EM properties of the rGO aerogel to a large extent.Although more Mo_(2)C nanoparticles may decrease the overall attenuation ability of the rGO aerogel,they bring much better impedance matching.At a molar ratio of 1:1,a desirable balance between attenuation ability and impedance matching is observed.In this context,the Mo_(2)C/r GO aerogel displays strong reflection loss and broad response bandwidth,even with a small applied thickness(1.7 mm)and low filler loading(9.0wt%).The positive effects of Mo_(2)C nanoparticles on multifunctional properties may render Mo_(2)C/r GO aerogels promising candidates for high-performance EWAMs under harsh conditions.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52077207 and 51907193)the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences,CAS(ZDBS-LY-JSC047)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS(2020145)。
文摘Practical applications of diverse flexible wearable electronics require electrochemical energy storage(EES)devices with multiple configurations.Moreover,to fabricate flexible EES devices with high energy density and stability,organic integration from electrode design to device assembly is required.To address these challenges,a free-standing reduced graphene oxide(rGO)/carbon film with a unique sandwich structure has been designed via the assistance of vacuum-assistant filtration for lithium-ion capacitors(LICs).The graphene acts as not only a binder to construct a three-dimensional conductive network but also an active material to provide additional capacitive lithium storage sites,thus enabling fast ion/electron transport and improving the capacity.The designed rGO/hard carbon(rGO/HC)and rGO/activated carbon(rGO/AC)free-standing films exhibit enhanced specific capacities(513.7 mA h g^(-1)for rGO/HC and 102.8 mA h g^(-1)for rGO/AC)and excellent stability.Moreover,the integrated flexible quasi-solid-state rGO/AC//rGO/HC LIC devices possess a maximum energy density of 138.3 Wh kg^(-1),a high power density of 11 kW kg^(-1),and improved cycling performance(84.4%capacitance maintained after 10,000 cycles),superior to the AC//HC LIC(43.5%retention).Such a strategy enlightens the development of portable flexible LICs.
基金the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51971146,51971147,52171218 and 52271222)the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission(21010503100 and 20ZR1438400)+3 种基金the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal EducationCommission(No.2019-01-07-00-07-E00015)the Shanghai Rising-Star Program(20QA1407100 and Yangfan Special Project:23YF1428900)the support of the Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Centre(ARTIC,Project Number ADT-RP2/A0005947-32-00)for research conducted by John Wang’s group。
文摘Promising room-temperature sodium-sulfur(RT Na-S)battery systems rely on purposely designed highperforming and low-cost electrode materials.Nevertheless,there are the challenges of irreversible dissolution and slow redox kinetics of NaPSs in the complete discharge of sulfur capacity.Herein,engineered CoMoO_(4)in reduced graphene oxide(CoMoO_(4)@rGO)is reported as a class of superior cathode hosts for RT Na-S batteries.The CoMoO_(4)@rGO matrix is designed to facilitate the reversible sodiation and desodiation of sulfur,considering the strong chemisorption between sulfur(and short-chain sodium sulfides)and CoMoO_(4),which alleviates the shuttle effect of sodium sulfides and accelerates the electrochemical reaction rate at RT.The obtained S/CoMoO_(4)@rGO cathode with~52%S loading exhibits a high capacity of520.1 mA h g^(-1)after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g^(-1).Moreover,an enhanced long-term performance at high current densities(212.2 mA h g^(-1)at 4 A g^(-1)over 1000 cycles)with high Coulombic efficiency(~100%)is also achieved.This work demonstrates a novel multifunctional additive for RT Na-S battery cathodes,which is expected to promote the long-waited development towards practical applications of RT Na-S batteries.
基金Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT),VNU-HCM for supporting this study。
文摘In this study,three-dimensional porous magnesium ferrite/titanium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide(Mg Fe_2O_(4)-GM/TiO_(2)/rGO(MGTG))was successfully synthesized via green and hydrothermal-supported co-precipitation methods using the extract of Garcinia mangostana(G.mangostana)as a reducing agent.The characterization results indicate the successful formation of the nano/micro Mg Fe_(2)O_(4)(MFO)and TiO_(2) on the structure of the reduced graphene oxide(rGO),which can also act as efficient support,alleviating the agglomeration of the nano/micro MFO and TiO_(2).The synergic effects of the adsorption and photodegradation activity of the material were investigated according to the removal of crystal violet(CV)under ultraviolet light.The effects of catalyst dosage,CV concentration,and p H on the CV removal efficiency of the MGTG were also investigated.According to the results,the CV photodegradation of the MGTG-200 corresponded to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.The reusability of the material after 10 cycles also showed a removal efficiency of 92%.This happened because the materials can easily be recollected using external magnets.In addition,according to the effects of different free radicals·O_(2)^(-),h^(+),and·OH on the photodegradation process,the photocatalysis mechanism of the MGTG was also thoroughly suggested.The antibacterial efficiency of the MGTG was also evaluated according to the inhibition of the Gram-positive bacteria strain Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus).Concurrently,the antibacterial mechanism of the fabricated material was also proposed.These results confirm that the prepared material can be potentially employed in a wide range of applications,including wastewater treatment and antibacterial activity.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project (Grant No. 2018YFE0124800)the National Key Research Program of China (Grant No.2022YFA1503100)+7 种基金Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. BZ2020011)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 22173067)the Science and Technology Development FundMacao SAR(FDCT No. 0052/2021/A)Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science&Technologythe Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD)the 111 ProjectJoint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices
文摘Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries can provide far higher energy density than currently commercialized lithium ion batteries, but challenges remain before it they are used in practice.One of the challenges is the shuttle effect that originates from soluble intermediates, like lithium polysulfides. To address this issue, we report a novel laminar composite, N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan-reduced graphene oxide(CC-rGO), which is manufactured via the self-assembly of CC onto GO and subsequent reduction of GO under an extreme condition of 1 Pa and-50°C. The synthesized laminar CC-rGO composite is mixed with acetylene black(AB) and coated on a commercial polypropylene(PP) membrane, resulting in a separator(CC-rGO/AB/PP) that can not only completely suppress the polysulfides penetration, but also can accelerate the lithium ion transportation, providing a Li-S battery with excellent cyclic stability and rate capability. As confirmed by theoretic simulations, this unique feature of CC-rGO is attributed to its strong repulsive interaction to polysulfide anions and its benefit for fast lithium ion transportation through the paths paved by the heteroatoms in CC.
文摘Over the span of years, improvements over various synthesis methods of graphene are constantly pursued to provide safer and more effective alternatives. Though the extraction of graphene through Hummers method is one of the oldest techniques yet it is one of the most suitable methods for the formation of bulk graphene. Graphene can be obtained in the form of reduced Graphite oxide, sometimes also referred as Graphene oxide. The effectiveness of this oxidation process can be evaluated by the magnitude of carbon/oxygen ratio of the obtained graphene. Here, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by oxidizing the purified natural flake graphite (NFG) by a modified Hummers method. The attempts have been made to synthesize GO having few layers by using a modified Hummers method where the amount of NaNO3 has been decreased, and the amount of KMnO4 is increased. The reaction has been performed in a 9:1 (by volume) mixture of H2SO4/H3PO4. This modification is successful in increasing the reaction yield and reducing the toxic gas evolution while using a varied proportion of KMnO4 and H2SO4 as those required by Hummers method. A new component of K2S2O8 has been introduced to the reaction system to maintain the pH value. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was thereafter extracted by thermal modification of GO. Here, GO has been used as a precursor for graphene synthesis by thermal reduction processes. The results of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analysis show that the NFG when oxidized by strong oxidants like KMnO4 and NaNO3, introduced oxygen atoms into the graphite layers and formed bonds like C=O, C-H, COOH and C-O-C with the carbon atoms in the graphite layers. The structure and morphology of both GO and rGO were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
文摘Magnesium(Mg) has attracted wide interest in orthopedic applications as they exhibit great biodegradability and strong biocompatibility,while corrosion is the main concern for Mg that should be addressed prior to biomedical applications. In this work, ZM31(Mg-3Zn-1Mn)/x RGO(x = 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 wt%) biocomposites were synthesized by semi-powder metallurgy method. The results showed that the RGO acting as an effective reinforcing filler to prevent deformation and showed better compressive strength(282.3 ± 9 MPa) and revealed enhancement in failure Strain(7.8 ± 2.1%) at 1 wt% RGO concentration compared to Mg alloy(244.5 ± 9 MPa and 7.1 ± 1.5%respectively). Moreover, fracture analysis indicated a more ductile fracture of the nanocomposites after the incorporation of RGO. Crack bridging, crack deflection and crack branching are dominant mechanisms for reinforcement of Mg-based containing RGO. Mg composites containing 0.5 wt% RGO showed a low corrosion rate(2.75 mm/year), while more incorporation of RGO resulted in an increased corrosion rate(4.38 mm/year). In addition, the degradation rate of ZM31 alloy(2.57 mg·cm-2·d-1) obviously decreased with the addition of 0.5 wt%RGO(1.84 mg·cm-2·d-1) in the SBF. Besides, continuous apatite layers were created on the composites in the SBF solution. Also, the cell culture examinations showed good cell viability and adhesion on composites with 0.5 and 1 wt% RGO, which was demonstrated by the SEM and MTT assay The alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity of the ZM3–0.5RGO composite was considerably higher than that of ZM31matrix alloy in 24 h and 48 h, implying higher osteoblastic differentiation. The antibacterial behavior toward both bacteria(E. coli and S.aureus) exhibited that escalating RGO concentration in Mg-matrix composites leads to further inhibition of bacteria growth. These findings suggested that ZM31–0.5RGO biocomposite could be a more promising candidate for orthopedic implants.
基金Beijing Higher Education Young Elite Teacher Project(YETP0499)
文摘The modified Hummers method was employed to generate graphene oxide,and Ag /reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were synthesized at different temperatures by using sodium citrate as the reductant. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM),transmission electron microscopy (TEM),X-ray diffraction (XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the reaction products. The results indicate that RGO has been synthesized successfully,and Ag particles are distributed evenly on the surface of RGO.The RGO prepared at a reaction temperature of 120℃ shows the best surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity.The Ag /RGO nanocomposites modified by 10^- 5 mol /L 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) successfully detect a 10^- 5 mol /L 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) alcohol solution.
基金Project (2014CB643406) supported by the National Basic Research Program of ChinaProject (2011FJ1005) supported by Major Special Project of Science and Technology of Hunan Province,China
文摘A facile way was used to synthesize Cu2O/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with octahedron-like morphology in aqueous solution without any surfactant. TEM images of the obtained Cu2O/rGOs reveal that the Cu2O particles and rGO distribute hierarchically and the primary Cu2O particles are encapsulated well in the graphene nanosheets. The electrochemical performance of Cu2O/rGOs is enhanced compared with bare Cu2O when they are employed as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The Cu2O/rGO composites maintain a reversible capacity of 348.4 mA?h/g after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA/g. In addition, the composites retain 305.8 mA?h/g after 60 cycles at various current densities of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mA/g.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1232119, 21403172)the Sichuan Youth Science and Technology Foundation (2013JQ0034, 2014JQ0017)the Innovative Research Team of Sichuan Province (2016TD0011)~~
文摘Photocatalysis is regarded as an ideal technology for solving the urgent environmental and energy issues that we face today.Among the reported photocatalysts,molybdenum disulfide(MoS2) is very promising for applications in hydrogen production and pollutant photodegradation.However,its lack of active sites and the difficulty of recovering catalysts in powder form have hindered its wide application.Here,we report the successful preparation of a macroscopic visible-light responsive MoS2/reduced graphene oxide(MoS2/RGO) aerogel.The obtained MoS2/RGO aerogel exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen production and photoreduction of Cr(Ⅵ) in comparison with the MoS2 powder.In addition,the low density(56.1 mg/cm^3) of the MoS2/RGO aerogel enables it to be used as an efficient adsorption material for organic pollutants.Our results demonstrate that this very promising multifunctional aerogel has potential applications in environmental remediation and clean energy production.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21007033)the Fundamental Research Funds of Shandong University(2015JC017)~~
文摘An electrochemically reduced graphene oxide sample, ERGO_0.8v, was prepared by electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) at -0.8 V, which shows unique electrocatalytic activity toward tetracycline (TTC) detection compared to the ERGO-12v (GO applied to a negative potential of-1.2 V), GO, chemically reduced GO (CRGO)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GC) and bare GC electrodes. The redox peaks of TTC on an ERGO-0.8v-modifled glass carbon electrode (GC/ERGO-0.8v) were within 0-0.5 V in a pH 3.0 buffer solution with the oxidation peak current correlating well with TTC concentration over a wide range from 0.1 to 160 mg/L Physical characterizations with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS) demonstrated that the oxygen-containing functional groups on GO diminished after the electrochemical reduction at -0.8 V, yet still existed in large amounts, and the defect density changed as new sp2 domains were formed. These changes demonstrated that this adjustment in the number of oxygen-containing groups might be the main factor affecting the electrocatalytic behavior of ERGO. Additionally, the defect density and sp2 domains also exert a profound influence on this behavior. A possible mechanism for the TTC redox reaction at the GC/ERGO-0.8v electrode is also presented. This work suggests that the electrochemical reduction is an effective method to establish new catalytic activities of GO by setting appropriate parameters.
基金funded by the Zhengzhou Materials Genome Institute,the National Talents Program of China,and Key Innovation Projects of the Zhengzhou Municipal City of China.
文摘The main bottleneck against industrial utilization of sodium ion batteries(SIBs)is the lack of high-capacity electrodes to rival those of the benchmark lithium ion batteries(LIBs).Here in this work,we have developed an economical method for in situ fabrication of nanocomposites made of crystalline few-layer graphene sheets loaded with ultrafine SnO_(2)nanocrystals,using short exposure of microwave to xerogel of graphene oxide(GO)and tin tetrachloride containing minute catalyzing dispersoids of chemically reduced GO(RGO).The resultant nanocomposites(SnO_(2)@MWG)enabled significantly quickened redox processes as SIB anode,which led to remarkable full anode-specific capacity reaching 538 mAh g^(−1)at 0.05 A g^(−1)(about 1.45 times of the theoretical capacity of graphite for the LIB),in addition to outstanding rate performance over prolonged charge–discharge cycling.Anodes based on the optimized SnO_(2)@MWG delivered stable performance over 2000 cycles even at a high current density of 5 A g^(−1),and capacity retention of over 70.4%was maintained at a high areal loading of 3.4 mg cm^(−2),highly desirable for high energy density SIBs to rival the current benchmark LIBs.
基金sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF, CMMI-1562907)the GAANN Fellowship for financial support (No. P200A150330)the Navy STEM Fellowship and the GAANN Fellowship for financial support
文摘Thanks to their remarkable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and barrier properties, graphene-based nanocomposites have been a hot area of research in the past decade. Because of their simple top-down synthesis, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have opened new possibilities for gas barrier, membrane separation, and stimuli-response characteristics in nanocomposites. Herein, we review the synthesis techniques most commonly used to produce these graphene derivatives, discuss how synthesis affects their key material properties, and highlight some examples of nanocomposites with unique and impressive properties. We specifically highlight their performances in separation applications, stimuli-responsive materials, anti-corrosion coatings, and energy storage. Finally, we discuss the outlook and remaining challenges in the field of practical industrial-scale production and use of graphene-derivative-based polymer nanocomposites.