Graphene–based composite materials for chemical sensor application

Abstract

This book chapter reports a comprehensive review of graphene-based composite materials for application in chemical sensors. Recently, the attractive electrical and physical properties of graphene-basedmaterials, i.e., graphite, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide, have stimulated in-depth studies of chemical sensors which exhibit interesting sensing capabilities. For a further improvement in their chemical-sensing performances, graphene-based materials were functionalized with different types of nanostructured sensing layers, such as nanoparticles (NPs), nanorods (NRs), and nanofibers (NFs) prepared with variousmaterials such asmetals, metal oxides, and polymers. A number of syntheticmethods to obtain graphene-based composite sensing layers were introduced, and they were categorized according to the materials and structures involved. In addition, we summarize recent promising progress in the area of chemical sensor applications with graphene-based composite materials, highlighting important sensing performance, such as those related to sensitivity (response), selectivity, response/recovery times, detection limits, and operating temperatures. Furthermore, potential sensing mechanisms are thoroughly analyzed in an effort to understand the characteristic sensing properties of graphenebased composite sensors. Finally, future perspectives on the development of graphene-based composite materials are discussed with regard to the realization of high-performance chemical sensors.