Methods include producing a plurality of carbon particles in a plasma reactor, functionalizing the plurality of carbon particles in-situ in the plasma reactor to promote adhesion to a binder, and combining the plurality of carbon particles with the binder to form a composite material. The plurality of carbon particles comprises 3D graphene, where the 3D graphene comprises a pore matrix and graphene nanoplatelet sub-particles in the form of at least one of: single layer graphene, few layer graphene, or many layer graphene. Methods also include producing a plurality of carbon particles in a plasma reactor; functionalizing, in the plasma reactor, the plurality of carbon particles to promote chemical bonding with a resin; and combining, within the plasma reactor, the functionalized plurality of carbon particles with the resin to form a composite material.