Graphene synthesis, characterization and its applications: A review

•Graphene possesses numerous significant properties with their diverse applications.•This review provides the structural properties, synthesis, characterization, and growth mechanism of Graphene.•This review describes the diverse applications of Graphene. Since 2004, graphene has attracted a lot of attention among scientists and engineers. In recent years, graphene, a two dimensional monolayer planar sheet of sp2-bonded carbon atom has witnessed a revolution in its applications because of its exemplary unique properties in terms of large specific surface area, physicochemical properties, mechanical strength, extraordinary thermal and electronic conductivity. There are several techniques used to synthesize high-quality graphene on a large scale. This review summarizes the fabrication of graphene by chemical, mechanical, thermal decomposition and chemical vapor deposition. In addition, the characterization methods and applications of graphene in different research fields have been discussed. This article winds up by giving a brief summary, illuminate the problems, and states the prospects of graphene.