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Emerging energy and environmental application of graphene and their composites: a review

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Abstract

Graphene-based materials receive attention in the field of energy and environmental application. The unique physiochemical assets such as the high surface area, high thermal stability, chemical flexibility, high electron mobility and mechanical solidity make it a highly versatile material for different applications. In this critical review, the application of graphene-based material in energy and environmental remediation is discussed in detail. More specifically, the role of graphene in thought-provoking research fields, viz. solar cell, photocatalytic water splitting, photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and heavy metal removal, is focused. As graphene possesses very good carrier mobility, it enhances the photocatalytic performance of semiconducting materials. Very interestingly, graphene is being used in both hole transport layer and electron transport layer in solar cell. Similarly, high surface area of graphene assists in heavy metal removal by adsorption. The challenges and recent achievements in these fields are highlighted in this review.

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Article Open access 09 February 2016

Md. Sajibul Alam Bhuyan, Md. Nizam Uddin, … Sayed Shafayat Hossain

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Catalysis Research and C*Change (DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa

    Mohamed I. Fadlalla

  2. PG & Research Department of Chemistry, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, 625009, Tamilnadu, India

    P. Senthil Kumar

  3. Department of Chemistry, The M.D.T. Hindu College, Tirunelveli, 627010, Tamilnadu, India

    V. Selvam

  4. Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore, 632014, Tamilnadu, India

    S. Ganesh Babu

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Fadlalla, M.I., Kumar, P.S., Selvam, V. et al. Emerging energy and environmental application of graphene and their composites: a review. J Mater Sci 55, 7156–7183 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04474-0

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