TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: In the composition (C1), the carbon-based aerogel is a graphene oxide aerogel or a graphene aerogel. The graphene oxide aerogel or graphene aerogel is reinforced with a polymer (G1).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The polymer is water soluble (preferably the polymer is polyvinyl alcohol). Preferred Method: The method (M1) further involves reducing the graphene oxide to graphene; adding a water soluble polymer (1-5 parts by weight) to the graphite oxide dispersion; and heating the graphene oxide aerogel for at least three hours at a temperature of at least 200 degrees C to obtain graphene. In the method (M1), the step of creating dispersion involves one of (a) adding graphite oxide in an amount of 1-20 mg/ml of liquid, (b) creating wet-gel dispersion, and (c) exfoliating the graphite oxide in the liquid by ultrasonication. The step of drying involves critical point drying the dispersion or freeze drying the dispersion. EXAMPLE - Using the Hummers approach by oxidation of graphite flakes (20 g), sodium nitrate (10 g), and sulfuric acid (0.5 l) were mixed in a glass jar to form a suspension. While maintaining vigorous agitation, potassium permanganate (60 g) was added, eventually forming a paste. The rate of potassium permanganate addition was controlled to prevent the temperature from exceeding 2O0C. The ice-bath was removed and the temperature of the paste-like suspension brought to 35 plus minus 3 degrees C, where it was maintained for 30 minutes. Water was then slowly stirred into the suspension, causing violent effervescence and an increase in temperature to 98 degrees C. The now-diluted suspension was maintained at this temperature for 15 minutes. The suspension was then further diluted to approximately 3 liter with warm water and treated with hydrogen peroxide (3 vol.%) to reduce the residual permanganate and manganese dioxide, followed by filtering. The filter cake was washed three times with a total of 3 liters of warm water. The filter cake comprising graphite oxide residue, was dispersed in water (6 l) to approximately 0.5 wt.% of solids. Dry graphite oxide was then obtained by centrifugation followed by dehydration in vacuum. The dried graphite oxide was then added to deionized water to form dispersion. Exfoliation was achieved by mild ultrasonication. This dispersion was then poured into a flask and flash frozen in liquid nitrogen. The frozen dispersion was then subjected to overnight vacuum drying to obtain a composition comprising a pristine graphene oxide aerogel. The obtained composition had good mechanical integrity having a foam-like structure with a light yellow color.