Abstract
Graphene is an interesting two-dimensional carbon allotrope that has attracted considerable research interest because of its unique structure and physicochemical properties. Studies have been conducted on graphene-based nanomaterials including modified graphene, graphene/semiconductor hybrids, graphene/metal nanoparticle composites, and graphene-complex oxide composites. These nanomaterials inherit the unique properties of graphene, and the addition of functional groups or the nanoparticle composites on their surfaces improves their performance. Applications of these materials in pollutant removal and environmental remediation have been explored. From the viewpoint of environmental chemistry and materials, this paper reviews recent important advances in synthesis of graphene-related materials and their application in treatment of environmental pollution. The roles of graphene-based materials in pollutant removal and potential research are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Lee C, Wei X, Kysar J W, et al. Measurement of the elastic properties and intrinsic strength of monolayer graphene. Science, 2008, 321: 385–388
Balandin A A, Ghosh S, Bao W, et al. Superior thermal conductivity of single-layer graphene. Nano Lett, 2008, 8: 902–907
Park S, Ruoff R S. Chemical methods for the production of graphenes. Nat Nanotechnol, 2009, 4: 217–224
Rao C N R, Sood A K, Subrahmanyam K S, et al. Graphene: The new two-dimensional nanomaterial. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2009, 48: 7752–7777
Ma Y W, Zhang L R, Li J J, et al. Carbon-nitrogen/graphene composite as metal-free electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction. Chin Sci Bull, 2011, 56: 3583–3589
Tian L L, Zhuang Q C, Li J, et al. Mechanism of intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions in graphene nanosheets. Chin Sci Bull, 2011, 56: 3204–3212
Wang H W, Wu H Y, Chang Y Q, et al. Tert-butylhydroquinone-docorated graphene nanosheets and their enhanced capacitive behaviors. Chin Sci Bull, 2011, 56: 2092–2097
Zhang Q O, He Y Q, Chen X G, et al. Structure and photocatalytic properties of ThO2-graphene oxide intercalated composite. Chin Sci Bull, 2011, 56: 331–339
Zhang H, Fu Q, Cui Y, et al. Fabrication of metal nanoclusters on graphene grown on Ru(0001). Chin Sci Bull, 2009, 54: 2446–2450
Zhang M Y, Wang Y, Zhao D Y, et al. Immobilization of arsenic in soils by stabilized nanoscale zero-valent iron, iron sulfide (FeS), and magnetite (Fe3O4) particles. Chin Sci Bull, 2010, 55: 365–372
Meyer J C, Geim A, Katsnelson M, et al. The structure of suspended graphene sheets. Nature, 2007, 446: 60–63
Ferrari A, Meyer J, Scardaci V, et al. Raman spectrum of graphene and graphene layers. Phys Rev Lett, 2006, 97: 187401
Li X, Cai W, An J, et al. Large-area synthesis of high-quality and uniform graphene films on copper foils. Science, 2009, 324: 1312–1314
Reina A, Jia X, Ho J, et al. Large area, few-layer graphene films on arbitrary substrates by chemical vapor deposition. Nano Lett, 2008, 9: 30–35
Srivastava A, Galande C, Ci L, et al. Novel liquid precursor-based facile synthesis of large-area continuous, single, and few-layer graphene films. Chem Mater, 2010, 22: 3457–3461
Sutter P W, Flege J I, Sutter E A. Epitaxial graphene on ruthenium. Nat Mater, 2008, 7: 406–411
Vang R T, Honkala K, Dahl S, et al. Controlling the catalytic bond-breaking selectivity of Ni surfaces by step blocking. Nat Mater, 2005, 4: 160–162
Nandamuri G, Roumimov S, Solanki R. Chemical vapor deposition of graphene films. Nanotechnology, 2010, 21: 145604
Aristov V Y, Urbanik G, Kummer K, et al. Graphene synthesis on cubic SiC/Si wafers. Perspectives for mass production of graphene-based electronic devices. Nano Lett, 2010, 10: 992–995
Deng D, Pan X, Zhang H, et al. Freestanding graphene by thermal splitting of silicon carbide granules. Adv Mater, 2010, 22: 2168–2171
Emtsev K V, Bostwick A, Horn K, et al. Towards wafer-size graphene layers by atmospheric pressure graphitization of silicon carbide. Nat Mater, 2009, 8: 203–207
Shivaraman S, Barton R A, Yu X, et al. Free-standing epitaxial graphene. Nano Lett, 2009, 9: 3100–3105
Subrahmanyam K, Panchakarla L, Govindaraj A, et al. Simple method of preparing graphene flakes by an arc-discharge method. J Phys Chem C, 2009, 113: 4257–4259
Wu Z S, Ren W, Gao L, et al. Synthesis of graphene sheets with high electrical conductivity and good thermal stability by hydrogen arc discharge exfoliation. Acs Nano, 2009, 3: 411–417
Hirsch A. Unzipping carbon nanotubes: A peeling method for the formation of graphene nanoribbons. Ang Chem Int Ed, 2009, 48: 6594–6596
Jiao L, Zhang L, Wang X, et al. Narrow graphene nanoribbons from carbon nanotubes. Nature, 2009, 458: 877–880
Kosynkin D V, Higginbotham A L, Sinitskii A, et al. Longitudinal unzipping of carbon nanotubes to form graphene nanoribbons. Nature, 2009, 458: 872–876
Guo H L, Wang X F, Qian Q Y, et al. A green approach to the synthesis of graphene nanosheets. Acs Nano, 2009, 3: 2653–2659
Shao Y, Wang J, Engelhard M, et al. Facile and controllable electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide and its applications. J Mater Chem, 2009, 20: 743–748
Zhou M, Wang Y, Zhai Y, et al. Controlled synthesis of large-area and patterned electrochemically reduced graphene oxide films. Chem Eur J, 2009, 15: 6116–6120
Simpson C D, Brand J D, Berresheim A J, et al. Synthesis of a giant 222 carbon graphite sheet. Chem Eur J, 2002, 8: 1424–1429
Berresheim A J, Müller M, Müllen K. Polyphenylene nanostructures. Chem Rev, 1999, 99: 1747–1786
Sakamoto J, van Heijst J, Lukin O, et al. Two-dimensional polymers: Just a dream of synthetic chemists? Angew Chem Int Ed, 2009, 48: 1030–1069
Wu J, Gherghel L, Watson M D, et al. From branched polyphenylenes to graphite ribbons. Macromolecules, 2003, 36: 7082–7089
Wu J, Pisula W, Müllen K. Graphenes as potential material for electronics. Chem Rev, 2007, 107: 718–747
Yan X, Cui X, Li B, et al. Large, solution-processable graphene quantum dots as light absorbers for photovoltaics. Nano Lett, 2010, 10: 1869–1873
Yang X, Dou X, Rouhanipour A, et al. Two-dimensional graphene nanoribbons. J Am Chem Soc, 2008, 130: 4216–4217
Compton O C, Nguyen S B T. Graphene oxide, highly reduced graphene oxide, and graphene: Versatile building blocks for carbon-based materials. Small, 2010, 6: 711–723
Rao C, Sood A, Subrahmanyam K, et al. Graphene: The new two-dimensional nanomaterial. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2009, 48: 7752–7777
Li Y, Zhang P, Du Q, et al. Adsorption of fluoride from aqueous solution by graphene. J Colloid Interface Sci, 2011, 363: 348–354
Ramesha G, Vijaya K A, Muralidhara H, et al. Graphene and graphene oxide as effective adsorbents toward anionic and cationic dyes. J Colloid Interface Sci, 2011, 361: 270–277
Zhao G, Ren X, Gao X, et al. Removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions on few-layered graphene oxide nanosheets. Dalton Trans, 2011, 40: 10945–10952
Yang S T, Chen S, Chang Y, et al. Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by graphene oxide. J Colloid Interface Sci, 2011, 359: 24–29
Deng X, Lü L, Li H, et al. The adsorption properties of Pb(II) and Cd(II) on functionalized graphene prepared by electrolysis method. J Hazard Mater, 2010, 183: 923–930
Zhao G, Jiang L, He Y, et al. Sulfonated graphene for persistent aromatic pollutant management. Adv Mater, 2011, 23: 3959–3963
Shen J, Hu Y, Shi M, et al. One step synthesis of graphene oxide-magnetic nanoparticle composite. J Phys Chem C, 2010, 114: 1498–1503
Shen X, Wu J, Bai S, et al. One-pot solvothermal syntheses and magnetic properties of graphene-based magnetic nanocomposites. J Alloy Comp, 2010, 506: 136–140
Wang C, Feng C, Gao Y, et al. Preparation of a graphene-based magnetic nanocomposite for the removal of an organic dye from aqueous solution. Chem Eng J, 2011, 173: 92–97
He F, Fan J, Ma D, et al. The attachment of Fe3O4 nanoparticles to graphene oxide by covalent bonding. Carbon, 2010, 48: 3139–3144
Chandra V, Park J, Chun Y, et al. Water-dispersible magnetite-reduced graphene oxide composites for arsenic removal. ACS Nano, 2010, 4: 3979–3986
Liang Y, Wang H, Sanchez C H, et al. TiO2 nanocrystals grown on graphene as advanced photocatalytic hybrid materials. Nano Res, 2010, 3: 701–705
Zhang H, Lv X, Li Y, et al. P25-graphene composite as a high performance photocatalyst. ACS Nano, 2009, 4: 380–386
Zhang L, Xu T, Cheng H, et al. Significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance of ZnO via graphene hybridization and the mechanism study. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2011, 101: 382–387
Nethravathi C, Nisha T, Ravishankar N, et al. Graphene-nanocrystalline metal sulphide composites produced by a one-pot reaction starting from graphite oxide. Carbon, 2009, 47: 2054–2059
Wang K, Liu Q, Wu X Y, et al. Graphene enhanced electrochemiluminescence of CdS nanocrystal for H2O2 sensing. Talanta, 2010, 82: 372–376
Chang H, Lü X, Zhang H, et al. Quantum dots sensitized graphene: In situ growth and application in photoelectrochemical cells. Electrochem Commun, 2010, 12: 483–487
Liu X, Pan L, Lü T, et al. Microwave-assisted synthesis of CdS Creduced graphene oxide composites for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). Chem Commun, 2011, 47: 11984–11986
Muszynski R, Seger B, Kamat P V. Decorating graphene sheets with gold nanoparticles. J Phys Chem C, 2008, 112: 5263–5266
Scheuermann G M, Rumi L, Steurer P, et al. Palladium nanoparticles on graphite oxide and its functionalized graphene derivatives as highly active catalysts for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. J Am Chem Soc, 2009, 131: 8262–8270
Goncalves G, Marques P A A P, Granadeiro C M, et al. Surface modification of graphene nanosheets with gold nanoparticles: The role of oxygen moieties at graphene surface on gold nucleation and growth. Chem Mater, 2009, 21: 4796–4802
Zhang H, Chen S, Quan X, et al. In situ controllable growth of noble metal nanodot on graphene sheet. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 12986–12990
Kamat P V. Graphene-based nanoarchitectures. Anchoring semiconductor and metal nanoparticles on a two-dimensional carbon support. J Phys Chem Lett, 2009, 1: 520–527
Guo S, Dong S, Wang E. Three-dimensional Pt-on-Pd bimetallic nanodendrites supported on graphene nanosheet: Facile synthesis and used as an advanced nanoelectrocatalyst for methanol oxidation. ACS Nano, 2009, 4: 547–555
Liu J, Fu S, Yuan B, et al. Toward a universal adhesive nanosheet for the assembly of multiple nanoparticles based on a protein-induced reduction/decoration of graphene oxide. J Am Chem Soc, 2010, 132: 7279–7281
Zhao H, Yang J, Wang L, et al. Fabrication of a palladium nanoparticle/ graphene nanosheet hybrid via sacrifice of a copper template and its application incatalytic oxidation of formic acid. Chem Commun, 2011, 47: 2014–2016
Sreeprasad T, Maliyekkal S M, Lisha K, et al. Reduced graphene oxide-metal/metal oxide composites: Facile synthesis and application in water purification. J Hazard Mater, 2011, 186: 921–931
Li N, Zheng M, Chang X, et al. Preparation of magnetic CoFe2O4-functionalized graphene sheets via a facile hydrothermal method and their adsorption properties. J Solid State Chem, 2011, 184: 953–958
Fu Y, Chen H, Sun X, et al. Combination of cobalt ferrite and graphene: High-performance and recyclable visible-light photocatalysis. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2011, doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2011.10.009
Fu Y, Wang X. Magnetically separable ZnFe2O4-graphene catalyst and its high photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. Ind Eng Chem Res, 2011, 50: 7210–7218
Li Y H, Ding J, Luan Z, et al. Competitive adsorption of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions by multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Carbon, 2003, 41: 2787–2792
Zhao G X, Li J X, Ren X M, et al. Few-layered graphene oxide nanosheets as superior sorbents for heavy metal ion pollution management. Environ Sci Technol, 2011, 45: 10454–10462
Zhao G X, Li J X, Wang X K. Kinetic and thermodynamic study of 1-naphthol adsorption from aqueous solution to sulfonated graphene nanosheets. Chem Eng J, 2011, 173: 185–190
Yang S B, Hu J, Chen C L, et al. Mutual effect of Pb(II) and humic acid adsorption onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes/poly(acrylamide) composites from aqueous solution. Environ Sci Technol, 2011, 45: 3621–3627
Shao D D, Hu J, Jiang Z Q, et al. Removal of 4,4′-dichlorinated biphenyl from aqueous solution using methyl methacrylate grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Chemosphere, 2011, 82: 751–758
Shao D D, Sheng G D, Chen C L, et al. Removal of polychlorinated biphenyls from aqueous solutions using β-cyclodextrin grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Chemosphere, 2010, 779: 679–685
Zhao D L, Chen C L, Sheng G D, et al. Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible irradiation on graphene@ TiO2 Drade structure. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2012, 111–112: 303–308
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Rights and permissions
This article is published under an open access license. Please check the 'Copyright Information' section either on this page or in the PDF for details of this license and what re-use is permitted. If your intended use exceeds what is permitted by the license or if you are unable to locate the licence and re-use information, please contact the Rights and Permissions team.
About this article
Cite this article
Lü, K., Zhao, G. & Wang, X. A brief review of graphene-based material synthesis and its application in environmental pollution management. Chin. Sci. Bull. 57, 1223–1234 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-012-4986-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-012-4986-5