Graphene: A Wander Material of the Twenty-First Century

Various nanomaterials and nanocomposites have been synthesized by researchers in which graphene has grabbed greater attention due to its exceptional properties (mechanical, electrical, and thermal). Graphene is a thin and strong two-dimensional, single-layered, hexagonal-shaped lattice, which also serves as an excellent conductor of electricity. It is widely studied for its potential use in the field of electronics, energy-related systems, sensors, composites, and biomedicines. The unique characteristics of graphene arise due to 2p orbitals of carbon forming π bands that delocalize over a sheet of carbon constituting graphene. Various modifications are incorporated by researchers to enhance the physical as well as chemical properties of graphene. Photocatalysis has gained greater attention lately, primarily considering how effectively and sustainably it has the potential to address serious energy and environmental challenges on a global level. Composite photocatalysts consisting of semiconductor materials supported by two-dimensional graphene nanosheets have gathered an enormous amount of attention and found use in a number of photocatalysis-related fields because of their distinctive optical, electrical, and physicochemical properties. This chapter deals with the basic introduction of graphene, various physical and chemical properties of graphene, and numerous applications of graphene in multiple fields of science and technology.