18 - The use of polymer-graphene composites in catalysis

Abstract

Graphene is a material that is very cheap but delivers high results in almost every area of human life. The multifunctional properties have made it a subject of great interest among researchers. An advanced research milestone in graphene production is the ability to produce composite materials. The surface morphology and particle size of the metal nanoparticles are highly significant in their catalytic properties and limited in their use in catalysis. Therefore, the progress of multifunctional materials for catalytic application is urgently required. In recent years, polymer-graphene composites with their enhanced catalytic, mechanical, electrical, and physical properties have emerged as one of the really popular multifunctional materials. This chapter deals with graphene-based polymer composites functioning with catalytic properties. The chapter describes in detail the recent promising research into polymer-graphene composites for catalytic applications such as photocatalytic activity, electrocatalytic activity, catalytic activity in hydrogenation reaction, and catalytic activity in the lithium-air battery. This chapter also outlines the future scope of the catalytic study.