Functionalized Graphene Sheets as Molecular Templates for Controlled Nucleation and Self‐Assembly of Metal Oxide‐Graphene Nanocomposites

Abstract

By using a combination of theoretical and experimental techniques, it is demonstrated that functionalized graphene sheets (FGS) can function as a new class of molecular templates to direct the nucleation, crystalline phase transition, and self-assembly process of surfactant micelles and metal oxides. Novel, three-dimensional FGS-metal oxide nanocomposite materials with an ordered mesoporous structure can be synthesized.