Emerging methods for producing graphene oxide composites in coatings with multifunctional properties

The most common preparation method of graphene starts from the oxidation and exfoliation of graphite to graphene oxide (GO). Such graphitic planes, decorated with oxygen-containing groups, are hydrophilic and soluble in water. From an industrial point of view, wet-chemistry approaches are the most desirable methods for the large scale integration of GO based polymer nanocomposites. The critical issue remains in the aggregation of the GO sheets after the dispersant evaporation which is detrimental for the coating uniformity. We present several methods for the development of such functional coatings preserving the physical properties such as optical transparency and electrical conductivity.