Structure engineering of graphene-based multifunctional nanocomposites: from lab research to industrialization

Since its experimental realization in 2004, graphene has revolutionized materials science due to its extraordinary two-dimensional (2D) architecture and exceptional physicochemical properties. Graphene oxide (GO), a pivotal derivative of graphene, exhibits immense potential for multifunctional nanocomposites, attributed to its unique 2D framework, abundant surface functional groups, and excellent solution processability. This review establishes structural engineering as the foundational paradigm for designing graphene-based nanocomposites with integrated multifunctionality. We systematically examine how structural engineering governs multiscale architectures from atomic-level defect configurations to macroscopic assembly geometries and elucidate the underlying structure-property relationships through mechanistic frameworks including phonon transport theory, percolation theory, and composite micromechanics. In-depth analyses of multifunctional applications in mechanical engineering, electronics, energy storage, environmental remediation, and biomedicine are presented, with explicit attention to both demonstrated advantages and persistent limitations of each application category. Critically, we identify and analyze four key industrialization bottlenecks, including structural controllability, batch consistency, scale effects, and cost-effectiveness trade-offs that currently impede the transition from laboratory achievements to scalable manufacturing. By synthesizing existing research findings with industrialization considerations, this review offers a critical assessment of the field's current state and provides actionable theoretical guidance and technical pathways for the precise design and large-scale industrialization of graphene-based nanocomposites.