Aqueous processing of graphene–polymer hybrid thin film nano-composites and gels

• The research field of graphene–polymer hybrids has been critically reviewed.
• Production of graphene particles has been described
• Thin film and nano-composite applications of graphene have been extensively reviewed
• Application areas include conducting films, hydrogels, and anti-bacterial surfaces.

Research into the structure, properties and applications of graphene has moved at a tremendous pace over the past few years. This review describes one aspect of this research, that of the incorporation of graphene particles with a range of polymers to create novel hybrid materials with increased functionality such as improved conductance, increased strength and introduced biocompatibility or cytotoxicity. This review focuses on dispersing graphene in polymer matrices, both insulating and conducting. Additionally, a brief discussion of carbon based platelet production methods is given in order to provide context on the subsequent use of this family of materials such as graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) incorporated into polymeric thin films.

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