Non‐covalent strategies for the preparation of stable aqueous graphene dispersions

Abstract Achieving stable aqueous dispersions of graphene is crucial for enabling applications in flexible electronics, sensors, coatings, and biomedical materials. However, graphene's intrinsic hydrophobicity and strong tendency to aggregate in water remain major obstacles to its large‐scale use. Non‐covalent functionalization has emerged as a promising strategy to disperse graphene in water without compromising its sp 2 ‐conjugated structure. This minireview summarizes recent advances in non‐covalent approaches employing small molecules, surfactants, and polymers to stabilize graphene dispersions. Key molecular interactions, such as ππ stacking, van der Waals forces, hydrophobic effects, and electrostatic or steric repulsion, are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on pyrene derivatives, amphiphilic surfactants, and both synthetic and natural polymers, highlighting their dispersion mechanisms, performance, and limitations. The review concludes with perspectives on future developments, including the use of renewable, non‐covalent modifiers to design efficient, scalable, and application‐specific dispersion systems.