Abstract
In the recent two decades, graphene-based materials have achieved great successes in catalytic processes towards sustainable production of chemicals, fuels and protection of the environment. In graphene, the carbon atoms are packed into a well-defined sp2-hybridized honeycomb lattice, and can be further constructed into other dimensional allotropes such as fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and aerogels. Graphene-based materials possess appealing optical, thermal, and electronic properties, and the graphitic structure is resistant to extreme conditions. Therefore, the green nature and robust framework make the graphene-based materials highly favourable for chemical reactions. More importantly, the open structure of graphene affords a platform to host a diversity of functional groups, dopants, and structural defects, which have been demonstrated to play crucial roles in catalytic processes. In this perspective, we introduced the potential active sites of graphene in green catalysis and showcased the marriage of metal-free carbon materials in chemical synthesis, catalytic oxidation, and environmental remediation. Future research directions are also highlighted in mechanistic investigation and applications of graphene-based materials in other promising catalytic systems.
Highlights
The discovery and exploitation of catalysts in the last century has significantly renovated the chemical industry and boosted the rapid development of human society in all the aspects of food, energy, and environment
Selective masking experiments of the presumed functional groups presented in the selective masking experiments of the presumed functional groups presented in reduced graphene‐oxide (rGO)‐HQ sample are in favor of hydroquinone/quinone‐like groups as the active sites responsible for the rGO-HQ sample are in favor of hydroquinone/quinone-like groups as the active sites responsible for the observed catalytic activity (Figure 9c,d)
One challenge in the practical application of graphene is the high cost of manufacturing processes, which are highly energy/chemical intensive
Summary
The discovery and exploitation of catalysts in the last century has significantly renovated the chemical industry and boosted the rapid development of human society in all the aspects of food, energy, and environment. TMO catalysts suffer from poor stability in acidic or basic solutions and may potentially induce secondary contamination during use and disposal To this end, carbonaceous materials are promising alternatives which are of elemental abundance, environmental friendliness, and structural robustness. Graphene be rolled into fullerene carbon nanotubes, or stacked into multi‐layered graphite Can since the with other materials [17] Both can surface modification and bring new features graphene‐based materials possess open, well‐defined and simple structures, offering to graphene in catalysis. Since the graphene-based materials possess open,tremendous well-defined for offering functionalization, characterization and determination of the andopportunities simple structures, tremendousthe opportunities for functionalization, the characterization structure/functionalities‐catalysis relations in chemical reactions. We provide some directions to the rational design and synthesis, advanced characterizations and mechanistic studies of graphene-based materials in heterogeneous catalysis
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