Abstract
With the profound transformation of the global energy structure and the advancement of the "dual carbon" goals, efficient, safe, and long-life energy storage technologies have become a key bottleneck constraining the development of the new energy industry. As a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial with a single-atom-layer thickness, graphene is regarded as an ideal candidate material for next-generation energy storage devices owing to its exceptional electrical conductivity, extremely high specific surface area, excellent mechanical strength, and unique chemical stability. However, in moving from high-quality laboratory samples to large-scale industrial applications, graphene faces severe challenges such as high preparation process costs, difficult-to-control structural defects, poor batch-to-batch consistency, and easy agglomeration in practical electrodes. This paper systematically reviews the latest innovative breakthroughs in graphene preparation technologies, thoroughly analyzes the principle evolution and limitations of mainstream processes such as mechanical exfoliation, liquid-phase exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, and the oxidation-reduction method, and focuses on emerging strategies including low-temperature synthesis, green solvent systems, and AI-assisted process optimization. On this basis, the paper elaborates in detail on the electrochemical enhancement mechanisms of graphene in energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and lithium-sulfur batteries, revealing its core role in constructing electron transport networks, optimizing ion diffusion kinetics, and buffering volume expansion. In response to the problems existing in the current industrialization process, such as the challenge of quality uniformity, excessive environmental burden, and insufficient industrial chain coordination, this paper proposes systematic countermeasures covering green intelligent manufacturing, scenario-specific structural design, and the establishment of industrial ecosystem standardization. The research aims to provide theoretical support and practical pathways for bridging the "last mile" of graphene from material preparation to the implementation of energy storage applications, and to promote the development of the graphene industry toward high quality and sustainability.
