Recent progress of metal–graphene

Metal–graphene nanostructures (NSs) as photocatalysts, prepared using simple and scalable synthesismethods, are gaining heightened attention as novel materials for water treatment and environmentalremediation applications. Graphene, the unique few layers sheet-like arrangement of sp2 hybridizedcarbon atoms, has an inimitable two-dimensional (2D) structure. The material is highly conductive, hashigh electron mobility and an extremely high surface area, and can be produced on a large scale at lowcost. Accordingly, it has been considered as an essential base component for producing various metalbasedNSs. In particular, metal-graphene NSs as photocatalysts have attracted considerable attention because of their special surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect that can improve their performance for the removal of toxic dyes and other pollutants. This review summarizes the recent and advanced progress for the easy fabrication and design of graphene-based NSs as photocatalysts, as a novel tool, using a range of approaches, including green and biogenic approaches.