Graphene aerogels: a review

Graphene based aerogels (GAs) are 3D scaffold materials that can be lighter than air. Due to their fascinating properties, such as, high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, thermal resistance and adsorption capacity, they have attracted a lot of interest currently. This review, covers the main routes for obtaining GAs namely, hydrothermal reduction/self-assembly, chemical reduction, template-directed reduction, cross-linking and sol–gel processes. Potential application fields for example in energy storage and environmental protection are also discussed. Finally, the future prospects of this exciting field based on the results published so far are examined.