Abstract
Enormous amounts of research and development are currently underway in the arena of improving threedimensional graphene and graphene oxide networks for use as foams, sponges and aerogels for a wide range of
applications. The underlying reason for the interest in 3D grapheme can be attributed to the splendid intrinsic and
extrinsic properties brought as a result of the 3D porous structures which has given rise to high specific surface
areas, good mechanical strength, fast mass and electron movement. Therefore a review about the present modes of
fabrication, material properties and the applications of 3D grapheme with strong emphasis on highly efficient graphene
sponges and graphene foams is expounded. Following on from this, a concrete understanding of the fabrication of
functionalized graphene aerogel for use in oil water separation will be addressed. To add on, the superiority of threedimensional (3D) graphene based macro porous architectures, as an absorbent in comparison to various sorbent
materials will be scrutinized. Furthermore, it was concluded that although large amounts of research and developments
have been achieved thus far, there is still some room for improvement. In fact the benefits of these improvements will
be applicable in a wide range of applications ranging from: high sensitivity gas detectors, super capacitors, lithium ion
batteries, oil-water separators to name a few.
applications. The underlying reason for the interest in 3D grapheme can be attributed to the splendid intrinsic and
extrinsic properties brought as a result of the 3D porous structures which has given rise to high specific surface
areas, good mechanical strength, fast mass and electron movement. Therefore a review about the present modes of
fabrication, material properties and the applications of 3D grapheme with strong emphasis on highly efficient graphene
sponges and graphene foams is expounded. Following on from this, a concrete understanding of the fabrication of
functionalized graphene aerogel for use in oil water separation will be addressed. To add on, the superiority of threedimensional (3D) graphene based macro porous architectures, as an absorbent in comparison to various sorbent
materials will be scrutinized. Furthermore, it was concluded that although large amounts of research and developments
have been achieved thus far, there is still some room for improvement. In fact the benefits of these improvements will
be applicable in a wide range of applications ranging from: high sensitivity gas detectors, super capacitors, lithium ion
batteries, oil-water separators to name a few.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of J Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 2017 |
| State | Published - 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |