Graphene Nanofoam Based Nanomaterials: Manufacturing and Technical Prospects

Abstract

This article fundamentally reviews progress in the design and manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) graphene-based nanocomposites for technical applications. The 3D graphene nanostructures have been manufactured using techniques like the template method, chemical vapor deposition, sol-gel, freeze-drying, hydrothermal technique, and other approaches. The nanofoam has been reinforced in polymers to achieve superior structural, morphological, and physical characteristics of the ensuing polymer/graphene nanofoam nanocomposites. The polymer/graphene nanofoam nanocomposites have been manufactured using the approaches like direct template method, in situ technique, infiltration process, and other methods. The 3D nanofoam- and polymer-based nanostructures have shown high specific surface area, suppleness, electron transport, thermal conduction, mechanical resilience, and other physical properties. The technical applications of hierarchical graphene nanofoams have been observed in the fields of radiation shielding, solar cells, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and other applications.

Geminal Dicationic Ionic Liquids (GDILs) and Their Adsorption on Graphene Nanoflakes

“…Although these carbonaceous materials have the same root, they are significantly different in electronic, mechanical, optical, and thermal characteristics because of their diverse structures . Nowadays, research on graphene and its derivatives has experienced a sharp exponential growth due to the infinite possibilities to modify. − However, the development of technologies to produce large amounts of graphene is important for scientific research and industry. Over the past few years, liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite has been achieved using numerous techniques and solvents to achieve large scalable graphene.…”

Freestanding carbon nanofoam papers with tunable porosity as lithium–sulfur battery cathodes

“…Among mesoporous/macroporous scaffolds, carbon aerogels and related aerogel-like carbons (e.g., nanofoams) exhibit many desirable structural characteristics for serving as an effective sulfur host, including through-connected pore networks of tunable size (nm to μm), high specific surface area (100 s of m 2 g −1 ), and moderately high electronic conductivity (10 s of S cm −1 ). [32][33][34][35][36] Carbon aerogels have shown promising initial results in Li-S cells when the aerogel powder is infused with sulfur and then processed into a conventional composite electrode with polymer binder. 26,31,37 Alternatively, we have demonstrated the electrochemical versatility of freestanding carbon nanofoam papers (CNFPs), in which porous aerogellike carbon networks fill and span the macroscale voids of a supporting carbon-fiber paper.…”