After reading this book three times, I found it to be a valuable resource and easy to read. This book gives a quick overview for anyone who wants to know all that is happening in the indium tin oxide (ITO) replacement space, and where graphene could fit in if and when a suitable application and a willing and able market are met. To the credit of the authors, no outrageous claims are made either in terms of its potential or to find real applications.
Chapter 1 nicely introduces all of the ITO replacement options, including transparent conductive oxides with reduced amounts of indium, transparent conducting polymers, transparent conducting metals, and transparent conducting carbon, including graphene.
Chapter 2 eloquently describes the synthesis, structure, and properties of graphene and graphene oxide. It includes discussions of the electronic/electrical, thermal, optical, and mechanical properties of these films. It also includes useful detailed information of characterization tools that are commonly used in laboratories, such as atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
Chapter 3 includes adequate information on different practical fabrication or deposition techniques, such as electrophoretic deposition, spin coating, spray coating, dip coating, rod coating, and even inkjet coating with valuable details of each approach.
Chapter 4 discusses improving electrical conductivity and transparencies by chemical doping, adding nanofillers, including other ITO replacement materials such as single-wall carbon nanotubes, Ag nanowires, ZnO nanorods, and metal grids. Graphene oxide is also considered and described in these contexts.
Chapter 5 briefly describes potential applications in display touchscreens, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, transistors, electromagnetic interference shielding, and functional glass for transparent solutions looking for a killer application.
Chapter 6 is a prospective chapter that clearly mentions all the potential challenges ahead and possible applications.
This book does not include worked examples or homework problems for use as a textbook. Instead, due to the emphasis on applications rather than fundamentals, this is more appropriate for readers in industry. It is an enjoyable read with rich and valuable references to original works. It can be used as a fantastic learning tool for anyone who wants to get an overview of where graphene research is heading in terms of finding real applications, or for anyone looking for an application that could create and serve a niche market.
Reviewer: Sudip Mukhopadhyayis a Honeywell Fellow at Honeywell, Calif., USA.
