Three-dimensional (3D) graphene foam has emerged as a promising material due to its interconnected porous network, large surface area, functional versatility, and many other unique properties being discovered day by day. In the present study, template-free synthesis for the fabrication of 3D graphene foam was experimented with using graphene oxide prepared via the modified Hummers method. Among the two template-free approaches, hydrothermal synthesis and freeze-casting synthesis, particular emphasis was placed on the hydrothermal route owing to its simplicity, cost-effective apparatus, and scalability. Aqueous graphene oxide dispersions were subjected to hydrothermal treatment, enabling the simultaneous reduction and self-assembly of graphene sheets into a stable three-dimensional porous framework without the use of any external templates. The structural and chemical characteristics of the hydrothermally synthesized graphene foam were systematically analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, which confirm the formation of an interconnected 3D graphene network. Moreover, the graphene foam prepared in this way exhibited notable antimicrobial activity, owing to its unique morphology and surface functionalities, which are discussed in detail in the article. The results explain that template-free hydrothermal synthesis is an effective, quicker and environmentally benign approach for producing 3D graphene foam, highlighting its potential for antimicrobial and many other functional applications.
Butala et al. (Mon,) studied this question.