Graphene in light: design, synthesis and applications of photo-active graphene and graphene-like materials

Graphene functionalized with photo-active units has become one of the most exciting topics of research in the last few years, which remarkably sustains and expands the graphene boom. The rise of photo-active graphene in photonics and optoelectronics is evidenced by a spate of recent reports on topics ranging from photodetectors, photovoltaics, and optoelectronics to photocatalysis. For these applications, the fabrication of photo-active graphene through appropriate chemical functionalization strategies is essential as pristine graphene has zero bandgap and only weak absorption of photons. Written from the chemists' point of view, up-to-date chemical functionalization of graphene with various small organic molecules, conjugated polymers, rare-earth components, and inorganic semiconductors is reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the development of graphene functionalized with light-harvesting moieties, including materials synthesis, characterization, energy/charge-transfer processes, and applications in photovoltaics. Challenges currently faced by researchers and future perspectives in this field are also discussed.