Multifunctional Hybrids of Graphene Quantum Dots with Inorganic Nanoparticles (Metal, Metal Oxide and MOF)-Topical State and Evolutions

Abstract

Carbon based quantum dots have been discovered as unique florescent nanoentities having different types, such as carbon nanodots, graphene quantum dots, and polymer dots. Out of these, graphene quantum dots can be seen as zero dimensional derivatives of graphene (2 dimensional nanosheet). Due to recent advancement in the field of graphene quantum dots, various inorganic and organic hybrids have been reported in the literature so far. In this concern, inorganic nanoparticles like metal, metal oxide, as well as metal organic framework (MOF) have been used to design graphene quantum dots/metal nanoparticles, graphene quantum dots/metal oxide nanoparticles, and graphene quantum dot/MOF type hybrids. These nanomaterials have been designed using efficient synthesis strategies including hydrothermal, solvothermal, freeze dying, solution, in situ, and several other methods. Accordingly, this state-of-the-art review article aims to highlight advantageous physical properties, such as microstructure, electron/charge conduction, florescence, catalytic activity, etc., in addition to dispersion, compatibility, and interface formation of graphene quantum dots with inorganic nanoparticles. Consequently, high tech application areas of graphene quantum dots/inorganic nanoparticle hybrids have been identified for optical sensors, supercapacitors, photocatalysts for environmental treatment, and antimicrobials for wound healing purposes. Despite the success of graphene quantum dots/inorganic nanoparticle hybrids so far, focused future research efforts on these nanomaterials may lead to large/commercial scale applications in energy, electronics, environment, and biomedical fields by overcoming underlying design/synthesis/performance challenges.