Graphene-Skinned Materials: Direct Integration Strategies, Structural Insights, and Multifunctional Applications

Graphene, owing to its unique atomic structure, exhibits a set of outstanding physical and chemical properties, including ultrahigh carrier mobility, excellent thermal conductivity, superior mechanical strength, and high optical transparency. However, the atomic-thickness nature of graphene limits its ability to form self-supporting structures, making substrate integration a prerequisite for practical applications. Graphene-skinned materials, constructed by in situ deposition of continuous graphene films on conventional substrates, have recently emerged as a promising solution. This strategy effectively integrates graphene with conventional engineering materials, harnessing its superior properties while avoiding the structural defects and contamination typical of transfer processes. Consequently, graphene-skinned materials have rapidly become a rapidly developing area of research in materials science. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in graphene-skinned materials. Particular attention is given to coating methods and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) routes, followed by a discussion of commonly employed characterization tools for evaluating graphene quality and interface integrity. Applications in electromagnetic shielding, thermal management, sensors, and multifunctional composites are critically examined. Finally, future perspectives are needed regarding the key challenges and opportunities for engineering and industrial-scale deployment of graphene-skinned materials.