# Expanding Horizons: Taking Advantage of Graphene's Surface Area for Advanced Applications
## 1 Introduction  
One of the most recognized, highly promising, and transformative materials in the 21 st century is graphene. Its popularity is attributed to its exceptional properties, which include remarkable mechanical strength, outstanding electrical conductivity, and impressive thermal stability. These qualities make it extremely desirable for a wide range of applications in several areas, such as energy storage, materials research, and electronics. Its widespread applicability and significant contributions to technological advancements originated from its high surface-to-volume ratio combined with its unique two-dimensional structure. As a result, it continues to garner significant attention and research interest in the scientific community. While these attributes have attracted significant attention, the recent focus has shifted toward an equally remarkable feature: its surface area. This inherent characteristic makes it an excellent candidate for electrode materials in electrochemical devices, particularly in applications like batteries and supercapacitors [1]. It is important to note that twocrucial qualities typically found in conventional electrode materials are not strictly inherent to pure, single-layer graphene. These qualities are affordability in production and the presence of a highly developed surface area with a well-defined pore structure. Theoretically, it can offer a surface area potential of 2640 m\({}^{2}\)/g; however, real-world samples, primarily in the form of nanoplatelets, typically have a significantly less developed surface area ranging from 10 to 750 m\({}^{2}\)/g [1; 2; 3]. Its expansive surface area renders it an ideal platform for the adsorption of ions and molecules, significantly boosting the capacity and efficiency of electrochemical energy storage systems. In the context of supercapacitors (SCs), its extensive surface area enables high charge storage capacity, rapid charge and discharge rates, and an extended cycle life. At the interface between the electrode and the electrolyte, its high surface-to-volume ratio facilitates effective ion adsorption and desorption. As a result, SCs incorporating graphene-based (G-b) materials demonstrate enhanced energy and power density compared to their traditional counterparts. G-b anodes and cathodes also enhance the capacity of batteries by accommodating more lithium ions during charge and discharge cycles. Its large surface area contributes to improved electrode stability, reducing the risk of electrode degradation over time. Its special qualities have shown their importance in the field of energy generation and storage devices, including fuel cells, battery cells, conventional dielectric capacitors, and SCs. Batteries are favored for their superior energy density, while traditional dielectric capacitors excel in high-power density. SCs serve as a bridge between batteries and conventional dielectric capacitors, as they offer a blend of both energy density and power density characteristics. Unlike batteries, which excel in energy storage but may lack rapid energy release, SCs prioritize fast energy discharge alongside adequate energy storage. This unique combination makes SCs a perfect device for applications requiring greater capacity in energy storage and quick energy delivery; for example, electric automobiles use them for reverse braking. This helps with peak power shaving in renewable energy systems. Consequently, SCs are receiving more and more attention because of their adaptability and efficiency in a variety of domains, including energy storage devices [4; 5], electric vehicles [6], and semiconductor devices [7]. With the rapid growth of renewable energy, there is a strong need to improve the energy density of batteries and SCs. Because of its exceptional electrical conductivity, durability, and chemical resistance, graphene--a two-dimensional single layer of graphite--stands out. The key to improving its energy storage performance is increasing the area of its surface (per unit mass or volume).