An overview on chemical processes for synthesis of graphene from waste carbon resources

Graphene, the wonder material has brought a revolutionary change in the field of nanotechnology owing to its tremendous properties. Though different methods for the synthesis of graphene have been reported, the chemical synthesis route offers a scalable and high-volume production of graphene. The unreliability of graphite and hydrocarbon resources to serve as steady supplies of carbon resources and further in the synthesis of graphene has led to the exploration and use of alternative low-cost carbon-rich resources (coal, graphite, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, peanut shells, waste tyres, etc.) as precursors for graphene synthesis. The use of untraditional carbon resources reduces dependence on traditional resources (coal, graphite), reduced cost, increased reliability, and provides a way for the management of waste biomass. This review hence focuses on the synthesis of graphene by the most common approachable method, oxidation–reduction of graphite, along with the various other chemical methods of synthesis from varied carbon resources.