Prospects for Using Graphene Nanomaterials: Sorbents, Membranes, and Gas Sensors

Properties of graphene and its derivatives, allowing these materials to be used as effective sorbents, membranes, and sensitive elements of gas sensors, are considered. Data on procedures for preparing graphene and its oxide are presented. The literature survey demonstrates the possibility of developing selective sorbents based on graphene nanomaterials for many industrial processes including water desalination and recovery of radionuclides from process solutions. As judged from the results of laboratory experiments, membranes containing graphene and its oxides can be used in foreseeable future for nanofiltration, water treatment, and gas drying. Large-scale commercial use of graphene is yet restricted by the lack of economically acceptable procedures for preparing graphene nanomaterials of large linear size. For fabricating gas and biosensors, the millimeter size of receptor elements containing graphene and its derivatives is sufficient, and this size is achievable today.