2D graphene oxide liquid crystal for real-world applications: Energy, environment, and antimicrobial

The wonder material, graphene, is now on the stage from academic research to real-world industrial application. Graphene oxide (GO), an oxygenated form of monolayer graphene platelet, is playing a crucial role for the large-scale production of minimal layer stacked graphene. Effective purification of GO by removing acidic and ionic impurities is the essential step for high dispersibility and long-term colloidal stability, endowing graphene oxide liquid crystal (GOLC) formation. GOLC can be readily utilized not only for the production of high quality graphene platelets but also in the straightforward design of multi-dimensional architectures, including 1D, 2D, and 3D, for the functional graphene-based material fabrication. Motivated from the inexpensive raw material and inherently scalable solution process, GOLC-based materials offer an idealized platform for the practical balance between material performance and economic cost. Herein, recent progress and future prospective associated with the commercialization of 2D GOLC-based materials are highlighted, specifically concerning the recent energy, environmental, and pandemic issues. Relevant crucial advantages and perspectives are reviewed for practical applications, including supercapcitors, membrane, molecular adsorption, and antimicrobial material.