Magnetic graphene, synthesis, and applications: A review

Abstract

Abstract After the discovery and recent developments of graphene and graphene oxide (GO), magnetic graphene has received research interest during the past years. The exceptional properties of magnetic graphene materials such as electron mobility, high surface area, high saturation magnetization, biocompatibility, easy functionalization, and water solubility make them potential candidates in different biomedical and environmental applications. Magnetic graphene materials can be synthesized through different methods including simple mixing of graphene/GO and magnetic nanoparticles, in-situ synthesis of magnetic materials on graphene materials, and covalent functionalization. Magnetic graphene foam and magnetic graphene quantum dots are also other advanced magnetic materials. The magnetic materials have found application in different biomedical areas such as drug delivery systems, hyperthermia, and combined therapy. The environmental applications of magnetic graphene materials include the removal of heavy metal ions, removal of radioactive metal ions, removal of pesticides, and removal of herbicides. Different functionalization and surface modifications have been applied to the graphene materials to improve their properties such as absorption, biocompatibility, water solubility, etc. In this review, the properties of the magnetic graphene materials are introduced. Different synthesis and functionalization methods of magnetic graphene materials that have been used by researchers during recent years are studied. Recent biomedical and environmental applications of magnetic graphene materials have been addressed.