Graphene–Environmental and Sensor Applications

Pollution management has been one of the major global issues being faced by the industrialized economy. In this chapter, applications of graphene-based nanomaterials for water and air remediation via adsorption and the effects of adsorbents on the electronic properties, magnetic properties, and photoconductivity, along with the relevant mechanisms, are discussed. Graphene nanosheets (GNS) and graphene oxides, due to their ease of chemical modification, with the addition of functionalities and stability along with ease of production, have emerged as ideal materials for adsorbents to eliminate heavy metal ions, inorganic ions, as well as organic dyes. Use of graphene as a photocatalyst in water remediation has been discussed. Graphene can help to resolve the challenge of making clean water available for general consumption. These graphene-based novel materials have been found to be suitable for air remediation through the removal of toxic gases, emitted due to the large-scale expansion of industries, including SO_x, CO, NH₃, and others, which can help to avoid natural calamities on account of global warming. A brief overview of the latest scientific advances in the developments of graphene-based devices to overcome the present shortcomings for fabricating sensors in the field of gas sensing, biosensing, and photonics for image sensing applications, along with their operating principles, is presented.