  As a derivative of graphene, graphene oxide (GO) was initially developed by
chemists to emulate some of the key properties of graphene, but it was soon
recognized as a unique material in its own right, addressing an application
space that is not accessible to chemical vapor deposition based materials. Over
the past decade, GO has emerged as a new frontier material with tremendous
advances in its material fabrication and quality control over its properties.
These in turn have led to rapid progress in GO based photonics, electronics,
and optoelectronics concepts and devices, evoking new science and paving the
way for many technological breakthroughs with exceptional performance. Here, we
review the unique fundamental characteristics of GO, its thin film fabrication
methods, patterning techniques, and mechanisms for tuning its material
properties. This latter capability in particular has enabled novel advanced
functional photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. Understanding
these insights is essential for designing and tailoring GO properties for
state-of-the-art applications including solar energy harvesting, energy
storage, medical diagnosis, image displays, and optical communications. We
conclude by discussing the open challenges and exciting opportunities of this
field, together with future prospects for major technological advancements and
breakthroughs.
