Heteroatom doping can endow graphene with various new or improved electromagnetic, physicochemical, optical, and structural properties. This greatly extends the arsenal of graphene materials and their potential for a spectrum of applications. Considering the latest developments, we comprehensively and critically discuss the syntheses, properties and emerging applications of the growing family of heteroatom-doped graphene materials. The advantages, disadvantages, and preferential doping features of current synthesis approaches are compared, aiming to provide clues for developing new and controllable synthetic routes. We emphasize the distinct properties resulting from various dopants, different doping levels and configurations, and synergistic effects from co-dopants, hoping to assist a better understanding of doped graphene materials. The mechanisms underlying their advantageous uses for energy storage, energy conversion, sensing, and gas storage are highlighted, aiming to stimulate more competent applications.

Using a simple hydrothermal procedure, cobalt oxide (Co(3)O(4)) nanowires were in situ synthesized on three-dimensional (3D) graphene foam grown by chemical vapor deposition. The structure and morphology of the resulting 3D graphene/Co(3)O(4) composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The 3D graphene/Co(3)O(4) composite was used as the monolithic free-standing electrode for supercapacitor application and for enzymeless electrochemical detection of glucose. We demonstrate that it is capable of delivering high specific capacitance of ∼1100 F g(-1) at a current density of 10 A g(-1) with excellent cycling stability, and it can detect glucose with a ultrahigh sensitivity of 3.39 mA mM(-1) cm(-2) and a remarkable lower detection limit of <25 nM (S/N = 8.5).

Owing to their small size, biocompatibility, unique and tunable photoluminescence, and physicochemical properties, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are an emerging class of zero‐dimensional materials promising a wide spectrum of novel applications in bio‐imaging, optical, and electrochemical sensors, energy devices, and so forth. Their widespread use, however, is largely limited by the current lack of high yield synthesis methods of high‐quality GQDs. In this contribution, a facile method to electrochemically exfoliate GQDs from three‐dimensional graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is reported. Furthermore, the use of such GQDs for sensitive and specific detection of ferric ions is demonstrated.

Quantum dots (QDs) derived from the atomically-thin two-dimensional (2D) sheets (graphene, transition metal dichalcogenide, graphitic carbon nitride, hexagonal boron nitride, and phosphorene) are emerging extraordinary zero-dimensional materials. Covering a broad spectrum of interesting optical, catalytic, electronic, chemical and electrochemical properties, these 2D-QDs promise a wide range of novel applications including imaging, sensing, cancer therapy, optoelectronics, display, catalysis, and energy. In this article, we discuss the synthesis methods and the properties of these 2D-QDs and emphasize their applications in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, supercapacitors, batteries, and photovoltaics.

Graphene, a single-atom-thick monolayer of sp(2) carbon atoms perfectly arranged in a honeycomb lattice, is an emerging sensing material because of its extraordinary properties, such as exceptionally high specific surface area, electrical conductivity, and electrochemical potential window. In this study, we demonstrate that three-dimensional (3D), macroporous, highly conductive, and monolithic graphene foam synthesized by chemical vapor deposition represents a novel architecture for electrochemical electrodes. Being employed as an electrochemical sensor for detection of dopamine, 3D graphene electrode exhibits remarkable sensitivity (619.6 μA mM(-1) cm(-2)) and lower detection limit (25 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 5.6), with linear response up to ∼25 μM. And the oxidation peak of dopamine can be easily distinguished from that of uric acid - a common interferent to dopamine detection. We envision that the graphene foam provides a promising platform for the development of electrochemical sensors as well as other applications, such as energy storage and conversion.