Chemical properties of graphene

The race in graphene exploration in the field of materials science and physics of matter has not yet stopped since its first discovery. Due to its phenomenal unique properties, this specific two-dimensional sheet of sp2-hybridised carbon has unlocked a wide range of applications such as energy storage, protective layer, semiconductors, and many more. Graphene structure has revealed the potential that it possesses, which may be used as the upper hand according to their exact purpose. In this chapter, the chemical properties of graphene will be discussed in which covers the chemical structure of graphene whereby introduces the family of graphene, effect of defect structure such as Stone–Wales defect, single vacancies, double vacancies, one dimensional, line defect, and defects at the edges of graphene on its chemical properties. Further graphene functionalization is also presented, which covers the topic that involves manipulating the chemical properties of graphene via molecular functionalization of both covalent and noncovalent functionalization. Not only that, topics regarding the chemical properties of graphene-based nanocomposites, which include both graphene-metal and graphene-polymer, are presented. Finally, an overview of the commonly used characterization method emphasizing Raman spectroscopy, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy specifically to spot chemical properties of graphene will also be discussed.