Nano‐Graphene as Groundbreaking Miracle Material: Catalytic and Commercial Perspectives

Abstract

Over the past decade, nano‐graphene has emerged as one of the miraculous materials to mankind because of its outstanding electronic, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Unique characteristics of nano‐graphene make it more attractive for development of new metal‐free green heterogeneous catalysts especially for advance catalysis like photo catalysts, electrocatalysts, and organocatalysts. This review critically discusses the characterization techniques, catalysis, energy, and environmental applications of nano‐graphene. A systematic design of economic challenges, health and safety concerns, and industrial life cycle assessment (LCA) to realize the commercial scale exploitation of nano‐graphene is also reviewed. At the end, the challenges and opportunities for the future development of nano‐graphene in regards to its sustainability and affordability are described.

Applications of Ceramic/Graphene Composites and Hybrids

“…Nowadays, graphene is increasingly becoming an alternative to metal-based catalysts, strategic materials currently subjected to high costs and limited availability. This carbon allotrope offers numerous advantages, notably low production cost, low toxicity, very high surface area and unique tuneable surface chemistry, which enables its use in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and carbocatalysis [ 214 ]. Recently, research is mainly looking for new ceramic/graphene catalysts for contaminants removal or for the production of hydrogen, using either metal or metal-free catalysts.…”

Graphene and its derivatives for Analytical Lab on Chip platforms

“…Among various nanomaterials, graphene is one of the top priority materials for the fabrication of LOC device because of its novel structure and exotic characteristics. Superthin (0.35 nm) and ultra-light honeycomb structure of graphene with a planar density of 0.77 mg/m 2 has attracted great interest because of its unique nanostructure with fascinating chemical and physical properties [5]. One atomic thickness of graphene is advantageous for its transparency as a single layer of graphene is nearly 98% transparent to visible light.…”

Programmable graphene-based microfluidic sensor for DNA detection

“…Single-layer graphene is noted for its transparency, 98% transparent to visible light with only one atom of thickness. The ultrathin (~0.35 nm) and ultra-light honeycomb structure of graphene owing to its planar density of 0.77 mg/m 2 have resulted in outstanding chemical and physical properties for futuristic, ground-breaking technology with many possibilities for different applications [10]- [12]. Graphene also exhibits unique mechanical properties with a Young's modulus of 1.0 TPa and intrinsic strength of 130 GPa, extremely high thermal conductivity with a value up to 8000 W/m.K, and excellent electron mobility of up to 2x10 5 cm 2 V -1 s -1 , which render graphene as the most conductive material at room temperature, with a conductivity of 1.42 x10 6 S/m and a sheet resistance of 125 Ω/sq [13], [14].…”