Kou Yang, Xueli Bi, Haibin Zhong, Juncheng Wang, Yanju Luan, Shushen Zheng, Daria V. Andreeva, Konstantin Novoselov, Shanqing Zhang
Stimuli-responsive graphene oxide (GO) composites have emerged as a frontier in smart materials research due to their tunable physicochemical properties and dynamic responsive capabilities to various stimuli, including physical stimuli (such as temperature, light, strain/pressure) and chemical stimuli (such as pH, water, moisture, and chemical species). The unique two-dimensional structure of GO, distinguished by its exceptional specific surface area and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, provides an ideal platform for integrating diverse responsive moieties through covalent/non-covalent modification strategies. This review systematically summarizes the response mechanisms to these stimuli and examines recent advancements in tailoring GO-based composites with programmable responsiveness to environmental stimuli, including thermal, pressure, pH, humidity, and specific biochemical signals. By analyzing their evolving design strategies, we elucidate emerging applications in flexible sensors, photocatalysis, photo-electrocatalysis, ion/gas separation membranes, and environmental remediation technologies. We also envisage critical perspectives on future research and development directions of stimuli-responsive graphene oxides.