Recent years have witnessed many breakthroughs in research on graphene (the first two-dimensional atomic crystal) as well as a significant advance in the mass production of this material. This one-atom-thick fabric of carbon uniquely combines extreme mechanical strength, exceptionally high electronic and thermal conductivities, impermeability to gases, as well as many other supreme properties, all of which make it highly attractive for numerous applications. Here we review recent progress in graphene research and in the development of production methods, and critically analyse the feasibility of various graphene applications.
Figures at a glance
Figure 1: There are several methods of mass-production of graphene, which allow a wide choice in terms of size, quality and price for any particular application. 
Figure 2: Graphene-based display and electronic devices. 
Display applications are shown in green; electronic applications are shown in blue. Possible application timeline, based on projections of products requiring advanced materials such as graphene. The figure gives an indication of when a functional device prototype could be expected based on device roadmaps and the development schedules of industry leaders.
Figure 3: Graphene-based photonics applications. 
Optical applications are shown in pink; optical interconnect applications are shown in brown. Possible application timeline, enabled by continued advances in graphene technologies, based on projections of products requiring advanced materials such as graphene. The figure gives an indication of when a functional device prototype could be expected based on device roadmaps and the development schedules of industry leaders.
Figure 4: In a supercapacitor device two high-surface-area graphene-based electrodes (blue and purple hexagonal planes) are separated by a membrane (yellow). 
Upon charging, anions (white and blue merged spheres) and cations (red spheres) of the electrolyte accumulate at the vicinity of the graphene surface. The ions are electrically isolated from the carbon material by the electrochemical double layer that is serving as a molecular dielectric.
Figure 5: Manipulating the hydrophilic–lipophilic properties of graphene (blue hexagonal planes) through chemical modification would allow interactions with biological membranes (purple-white double layer), such as drug delivery into the interior of a cell (blue region). 
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