Review: recent progress in high performance graphene fibers-fabrication, characterization and perspectives

Graphene fibers (GFs), assembled from graphene-based building blocks, have received considerable attention both from academia and industry due to their intriguing features of high specific surface area, lightweight, easy functionalization, excellent mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Herein, we have summarized current research status of GFs in terms of their latest fabrication techniques, characterization methods and reduction processes. Wet and dry spinning, dimension-confined hydrothermal strategy, electrophoretic self-assembly, and film conversion fabrication techniques are mainly discussed to optimize the best fabrication conditions. Moreover, various characterization techniques and reduction processes of GFs are also elaborated in detail. Finally, a perspective of the future development and applications of GFs have been given a separate portion in this review.