Bioinspired Design of Graphene-Based Materials

It can be difficult to know where to begin when considering the research opportunities of a material with such outstanding potential as graphene. When searching for a “killer application,” the researcher often neglects to query the world around them, forgetting that nature has been evolving for billions of years to elegantly solve every day problems. Bioinspiration is an intelligent strategy to nucleate new ideas and speed up the innovation process by providing ready-made prototypes. Graphene is uniquely placed to take advantage of this approach thanks to its superlative properties and versatile nature. In this review, the state-of-the-art in the bioinspired design of graphene-based materials has been analyzed, and three distinct sources of inspiration have been identified: natural functions, such as adhesion and actuation; natural structures, such as layers and pores; and natural processes, such as surface functionalization and biomineralization. Implementing this philosophy into further graphene research will provide new ways to solve problems and suggest novel applications that may not otherwise be considered.