Preparation and Applications of Graphene/Polymer Composite Thin Films

Graphene has a unique oneatom thick two-dimensional structure, large specific surface area, and excellent electronic, optical, thermal and mechanical properties. Graphene can be blended into polymers to form composites through either covalent or noncovalent (e. g. hydrogen bonding, pi-pi stacking and electrostatic) interactions. These interactions can increase the dispersibility of graphene in polymer matrices and also can improve the properties of graphene/polymer composites or extend their functions. Several methods including solution mixing, melt blending and in situ polymerization have been developed to prepare graphene/polymer composites. These composites can be processed into thin films by solvent evaporation, casting, vacuum filtration or layer-by-layer assembly. Graphene/polymer composite films have potential applications in highstrength structural materials, supercapacitors, photovoltaic devices, lithium ion batteries and sensors. In this review, we summarize the recent advancements on the preparation and applications of graphene/polymer composite thin films. The issues and challenges that remain in this field were also be discussed.