ABSTRACT

The exfoliation of graphene by the scotch tape method started a new era in current science. Scientists and engineers from all areas of knowledge use graphene to ameliorate their research and improve our lifestyle. The availability of graphene has eclipsed the studies in other carbon-related materials, such as fullerenes, nanotubes, and activated carbons. Graphene has unmatched properties like (Service 2009) high carrier mobility, exceptional mechanical properties due to its conjugated sp2 framework, almost unlimited heat conduction, and room temperature quantum Hall effect, among many others. Notwithstanding the fact that these properties are quite impressive, before more graphene-based products reach the market, extensive work is required to fine tune the intrinsic characteristics of graphene. One method which facilitates the modification of the physicochemical properties of graphene is the chemical functionalization. That is the topic discussed in the present chapter.