Semiconducting metal oxides empowered by graphene and its derivatives: Progresses and critical perspective on selected functional applications

• This Perspective presents and discusses the most recent advancements in the field of exploitation of hybrid nanostructured composites consisting of semiconducting metal oxides and graphene and its derivatives (graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots, and carbon nanotubes) in specific fields of applications, namely, photovoltaics, water splitting, photocatalysis, and supercapacitors. These hybrid materials have received remarkable attention over the last decade thanks to claimed outstanding functional optoelectronic properties, especially as for (photogenerated) charge carriers storage and transport, allowing the promotion of useful reactions and enhancement of the efficiency of several processes based on charge exchange. In situ and ex situ synthetic strategies have been applied in order to optimize the contact between the two partners and efforts have as well been devoted to investigate the best amount of carbon material to insert in the semiconductor scaffold. We provide the reader with an overview of the research carried out in the last decade, together with a critical analysis of the claimed benefits provided by the carbon materials, also highlighting the current questions waiting for the scientific community to provide an answer to.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Experimentell fysik

Experimental Physics

Publication and Content Type

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