Chapter 5 - Graphene composites with inorganic 2-D materials

Abstract

The design, synthesis, structural features, and applications of composite materials of graphene and inorganic two-dimensional sheets are discussed in this chapter. In-plane heterostructures of inorganic layers and graphene were fabricated by controlled chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Stabilized by attractive dispersive interactions, the layered materials can be grown or transferred on top of each other, synthesized by CVD or micromechanical cleavage of the bulk crystals. On the other hand, the solution-phase methods of synthesis yield randomly oriented composites. Characterization of these hybrids consisting of graphene and inorganic material is done by many methods such as elemental mapping and Raman microscopy techniques. The bandgap opening of graphene by hexagonal boron nitride and transition metal dichalcogenides is an excellent approach for the fabrication of photodetectors, where graphene composites act as the photoelectrode. The inorganic sheets provide bandgap and photon absorption, whereas graphene imparts thermal/chemical/conductivity/stability and mechanical strength or there could be an intrinsic effect of one phase on the other at multiple levels. The details of the preparation, characterization, and properties of each of these hybrids are tabulated for quick perusal, and for familiarity with this exciting new field.