Polyaniline and Graphene Oxide or Reduced Graphene Oxide-Based Composites for Environmental Remediation Application

Conducting polymers and carbonaceous materials such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based composites have been investigated with great interest for their use as adsorbents and photocatalysts in water purification. In particular, polyaniline (PANI) and graphene oxide or reduced graphene oxide-based composite materials were found to be efficient adsorbents as well as photocatalysts for the adsorption removal and photocatalytic degradation of various pollutants from water. This is due to the synergic effect of the polymer and carbon material. This review highlights the importance of such composites and provides a discussion of many relevant literature reports with their analyses. Initially, the important information about structures and characteristic properties of PANI, GO, and rGO materials are presented followed by the discussion with an analysis of the latest reports on PANI-GO/PANI-rGO-based composite materials as adsorbents and photocatalysts. Additional important reports from previous literature are summarized in tabular format with important parameters in both applications to provide the authors with useful information.