Review of scientific literature and standard guidelines for the characterization of graphene-based materials

Abstract

AbstractGraphene is a two-dimensional carbon material with unique properties, such as high thermal and electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, elasticity, and biocompatibility. The methods used to synthesize graphene affect its structural properties, including flaws, layer count, crystalline domain size, and impurities, ultimately affecting the properties and performance of graphene-based materials. This review aims to analyze the methods used to characterize graphene, using both ISO/IEC standards and current literature as references. The discussed techniques are diverse, yet complementary, and include ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption near edge structure, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, thermogravimetric analysis, in-line four-point probe, resonant cavity and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, besides an alternative method to determine the graphene domain. By employing rigorous characterization techniques, researchers and industry professionals can ensure the reliability, effectiveness, and trustworthiness of graphene-based materials for various applications.