Graphene is a distinct two-dimensional material that offers a wide range of opportunities for membrane applications because of ultimate thinness, flexibility, chemical stability, and mechanical strength. We demonstrate that few- and several-layered graphene and graphene oxide (GO) sheets can be engineered to exhibit the desired gas separation characteristics. Selective gas diffusion can be achieved by controlling gas flow channels and pores via different stacking methods. For layered (3- to 10-nanometer) GO membranes, tunable gas transport behavior was strongly dependent on the degree of interlocking within the GO stacking structure. High carbon dioxide/nitrogen selectivity was achieved by well-interlocked GO membranes in high relative humidity, which is most suitable for postcombustion carbon dioxide capture processes, including a humidified feed stream.

Currently, there is great interest in graphene-based devices and applications because graphene has unique electronic and material properties, which can lead to enhanced material performance. Graphene may be used in a wide variety of potential applications from next-generation transistors to lightweight and high-strength polymeric composite materials. Graphene, which has atomic thickness and two-dimensional sizes in the tens of micrometer range or larger, has also been considered a promising nanomaterial in gas-or liquid-barrier applications because perfect graphene sheets do not allow diffusion of small gases or liquids through its plane. Recent molecular simulations and experiments have demonstrated that graphene and its derivatives can be used for barrier applications. In general, graphene and its derivatives can be applied via two major routes for barrier polymer applications. One is the transfer or coating of few-layered, ultrathin graphene and its derivatives, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), on polymeric substrates. The other is the incorporation of fully exfoliated GO or rGO nanosheets into the polymeric matrix. In this article, we review the state-of-the-art research on the use of graphene, GO, and rGO for barrier applications, including few-layered graphene or its derivatives in coated polymeric films and polymer nanocomposites consisting of chemically exfoliated GO and rGO nanosheets, and their gas-barrier properties. As compared to other nanomaterials being used for barrier applications, the advantages and current limitations are discussed to highlight challenging issues for future research and the potential applications of graphene/ polymer, GO/polymer, and rGO/polymer composites.

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Ultrathin graphene oxide (GO) (<5 nm) membranes were prepared by spin-casting onto microporous polymeric support membranes. GO membranes exhibited a highly CO2 permeable character, which is suitable for CO2 separation. In the presence of water vapour, high CO2 selectivity (e.g., CO2/H2, CO2/N2, and CO2/CH4) was achieved by enhanced CO2 sorption.

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