Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites: a new class of materials*

We have developed an approach that yields a new class of materials: the graphene-based materials. I present our `bottom up' approach to achieving highly dispersed chemically modified graphene (CMG) sheets in polymer composites. A host of novel studies of both individual CMG sheets as well as of the CMG sheet-based nancomposites, is thus now possible. An overview is given of the level of dispersion of the CMG sheets and their morphology in the composites, and of the composite thermal/electrical conductivity and thermomechanical properties. I also discuss our deposition of individual sheets and studies of them.