A new type of atom-thin carbon nanomesh clusters (CMCs) is prepared through a self-sacrificial and morphology-reserved thermal transformation of electrodeposited zinc coordination polymer (Zn-CP). Such a unique structure can effectively inhibit the sheet stacking due to the self-formed cluster morphology of Zn-CP. The clusters are composed of nitrogen-doped, continuous, interconnected, one-/two-atom-thick carbon nanosheets, which not only effectively inhibit the sheet stacking but also significantly benefit ion transport. As a result, as active electrode material of supercapacitor in aqueous electrolytes, the resultant nitrogen-doped CMC (N-CMC) yields a capacitance of up to 984 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability with 137% of its initial capacitance after 40 000 cycles, both higher than most of reported graphene-based and carbon-based electrode materials. On the other hand, the final N-doped CMC also exhibits superior electrocatalytic activities for oxygen reduction reaction.

This work demonstrates the surface chemistry of graphene can be directly reflected by the visible zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures. When C/O atom ratio is smaller than 9, ZnO tends to self-assemble into hydrangea-like microstructure in the form of nanosheets on the graphene films and the size of ZnO microspheres decrease gradually with the increase of C/O ratio. In the case of C/O ratio of larger than 9, the sphere-shaped flowers disappear, followed by clavate structures. The larger C/O ratio is, the less the diameter of rods is. When C/O ratio is in the range of 8–9, there is a hybridized state composed of both of nanosheets and rods, where the rods are in the range of microns. The morphology evolution of ZnO is applied to graphene film with different oxidation degree modulated by HI acid or thermal treatment. What’s more, hydrangea-like ZnO/graphene structure shows a good reversibility of the surface wettability irradiated with UV light and enhanced sensitivity to visible light irradiation, which will open up new opportunities for future optoelectronic devices.

Well-intergrown nanocrystals of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) supported on three-dimensional (3D) graphene were prepared by a counter diffusion technique. The incorporation of ZIF-8 crystals greatly improves the surface areas of the graphene composites. The carbonized graphene–ZIF composites with hierarchical pore structures showed high electrochemical capacitance and good stability. This work provides an efficient method to synthesize porous carbon materials with high capacitance.