Scanning electrochemical microscopy for the analysis and patterning of graphene materials: A review

•Review of graphene (G) and G-related materials (GRM) characterization by SECM.•SECM stands for scanning electrochemical microscopy technique.•Application for characterization of electroactivity and conductivity of G and GRM.•Application for characterization of electron transfer kinetics of G and GRM.•SECM has been employed to produce micropatterns of GRM.

Graphene and related materials have recently emerged as outstanding materials due to a range of properties such as high mechanical strength, high electron mobility, thermal conductivity, etc. Due to their high surface area and conductivity, graphene materials have also been used for electrochemical applications such as supercapacitors, batteries, sensors, etc. Therefore, the characterization of the electroactivity of graphene materials is necessary and different electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been widely used for this purpose. Scanning electrochemical microscopy has appeared as a unique technique that can be used to test electron transfer kinetics, electroactivity and conductivity of these materials. Even patterns can be created on graphene materials by this technique. This review aims to compile the different works performed with graphene materials and scanning electrochemical microscopy technique and provide new perspectives into the analysis of graphene materials using this technique.

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