Graphene and its derivatives as wonder materials: An overview of experimental and theoretical investigations

Graphene and its derivatives are renowned for their exceptional properties, including superior mechanical strength, high specific surface area, and excellent chemical and electrical properties. An overall synthesis route for graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is discussed in this article, encompassing both traditional and environmentally friendly reducing agents. When metal oxide (MO) is introduced on the surface of GO or rGO, it enhances the properties of these materials, which can be used for advanced applications such as supercapacitors, photocatalysts, sensing, biomedicine, and many more. With the rise of experimental research, theoretical research has also gained significant attention. Density functional theory (DFT) is one of the most powerful computational tools widely used in chemistry, physics, and materials science. It helps to gain a deep understanding of the electronic structure of materials, predict ground-state energies, design and optimize molecules for future applications. Additionally, characterization techniques such as XRD, FTIR, UV–visible, SEM, and TEM play a crucial role in determining the optical, electronic properties, and surface morphologies of the material under study. Overall, this article aims to provide a basic understanding of graphene and its derivatives in both experimental and theoretical fields.