Chemical blowing strategy for 3D graphene materials: Overcoming graphene restacking and integrating macro/microstructural construction

Carbon materials, with multiple allotropes, played critical roles in the development of human life and industrial manufacturing. As one of the typical allotropes, 2D graphene materials attracted increasing attention since the discovery in 2004 due to their incredible properties but suffer from the Achilles’ heel of restacking and agglomeration, losing their fascinating properties in practical applications. The design of 3D framework built by 2D graphene sheets is deemed as the effective way to solve the above issues and fulfill the efficient use of 2D graphene’ properties. Compared with the conventional methods (typically the GO assembly and template CVD) for the fabrication of 3D graphene materials, the chemical blowing strategy stands out due to the compelling merits of low cost, eco-friendly, facile process, scalable production, and superior controllability. However, rare review articles focus on the theme of the fabrication of 3D graphene materials via chemical blowing strategy so far. This review starts with an outline of chemical blowing strategy, clarifying the fundamentals of blowing process and historical evolutions as well as classifications of 3D graphene materials. Thereafter, we dwell at length on the recent progress on the 3D graphene foam and powder materials fabricated via chemical blowing, emphasizing the basic chemistries behind the synthesis of different 3D graphene materials. Following the correlation between 3D graphene foam and powder materials, the design considerations and functional applications of them are further discussed, providing some recommendations on the synthesis of desired 3D graphene materials and revealing their differences and commonalities in application scenarios. At last, after briefly summarization, we propose some personal suggestions on the current challenges, opportunities, and future research directions for the development of chemical blowing.