Graphene: Electrochemical exfoliation and applications

Graphene, with hexagonally, sp2-hybridized and one-atomthick layer structures, possesses high conductivity, superior electron mobility, and extremely high specific surface area, and can be produced on a large scale for various industrial applications. Thus, many techniques have been proposed for the synthesis of graphene including chemical vapor deposition, exfoliation of graphite oxide, electrochemical synthesis, etc. Especially, electrochemical exfoliation routes have attracted extensive attention because of their fast and simple implementation and potential for mass production. This chapter summarizes the recent progress in the design of the synthetic method of graphene via electrolysis in various kinds of electrolytes including ionic liquids, surfactants, propylene carbonate, etc. Furthermore, the applications of the resulting graphene are described in relation to their physical and chemical properties. The perspectives on the challenges and new directions in this emerging area of research are also discussed.