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).

Properly piled up: Single‐layer 2D semiconducting nanomaterials of MoS2, WS2, TiS2, TaS2, ZrS2, and graphene were fabricated through an electrochemical lithiation process (see picture). The production of single‐layer MoS2 was achieved in 92 % yield. A single‐layer MoS2‐based thin‐film transistor was fabricated, which was used for sensing NO at a detection limit of 190 ppt.

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.

Synthesis of nanocrystals with exposed high-energy facets is a well-known challenge in many fields of science and technology. The higher reactivity of these facets simultaneously makes them desirable catalysts for sluggish chemical reactions and leads to their small populations in an equilibrated crystal. Using anatase TiO 2 as an example, we demonstrate a facile approach for creating high surface area, stable nanosheets comprised of nearly 100% exposed (001) facets. Our approach relies on spontaneous assembly of the nanosheets into three-dimensional, hierarchical spheres that stabilizes them from collapse. We show that the high surface density of exposed TiO 2 (001) facets leads to fast lithium insertion/deinsertion processes in batteries that mimic features seen in high power electrochemical capacitors.2