Recent Advances in Growth and Modification of Graphene-Based Energy Materials: From Chemical Vapor Deposition to Reduction of Graphene Oxide

Graphene is recognized as the next generation of energy materials due to its spectacular physical properties. Meanwhile, there are diverse synthetic methods toward graphene, and these methods have unique advantages to impel graphene to be suitable for different energy devices. Chemical vapor deposition and reduction of graphene oxide are classical methods for preparing graphene with various lattice structures and layer numbers, resulting in the tunability of graphene properties, whereby the synthetic methods have significant effects on energy device performances. Therefore, this review pays dose attention to the discrepancies of graphene-based materials prepared by these two methods for use in solar cells, rechargeable batteries, and electrocatalysis for hydrogen evolution. Furthermore, the modifications of graphene are introduced to offset the weaknesses of synthetic methods. Then, the review introduces graphene-based flexible energy devices because graphene prepared by these two methods shows similarity in their mechanical stability. Finally, other synthetic methods are shortly highlighted to explain the importance of these two methods. The analyses for the discrepancies and similarity of graphene-based materials in classical energy devices from the aspect of synthesis are beneficial to guide the preparation and modifications of graphene for maximizing its application and promote practical usage in the future.