Chemical synthesis of reduced graphene oxide: a review

Abstract

Due to its exceptional and distinct features, graphene has become a prominent two-dimensional material. According to the raw materials and synthetic procedures, there are two categories of graphene synthesis techniques: “bottom-up” and “top-down” methods. Reduction of graphene oxide (GO) is one of the “top-down” techniques that use graphite as the starting material. This approach is now regarded as the most potential way to produce graphene on a large scale and is particularly well-suited for chemical modification and subsequent processing. This review summarizes the synthesis procedure of reduced GO (RGO) and presents the preparation methods of it and its precursors, such as graphite oxide and GO. In addition, the possible approaches for reducing the defects in RGO have been discussed.