To　improve　its　dispersion　and　flame　retardant　efficiency,　graphene　oxide　(GO)　is　dually　modified　with　polymeric　flame　retardant　and　the　nanomaterial　with　catalytic　carbonation　ability.　Via　the　reactions　between　oxygen　functional　groups　in　GO　and　P　Cl　groups　in　hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene,　phosphazene-based　flame　retardant　is　grafted　to　GO.　Due　to　the　strong　affinity　of　Ni2+　with　NH2　groups　in　this　phosphazene　flame　retardant,　the　decoration　of　Ni(OH)(2)　nanosheets　on　the　graphene　is　facilitated.　Transmission　electron　microscopy　images　confirm　good　dispersion　and　exfoliation　state　of　graphene　in　polypropylene　(PP)　matrix.　The　incorporation　of　functionalized　graphene　oxide　(FGO)　results　in　the　reduction　of　peak　heat　release　rate,　total　heat　release　and　smoke　release　of　PP　during　the　combustion.　Flame　mechanism　of　FGO　is　concluded　according　to　the　results　of　thermal　decomposition　and　char　analysis.　This　work　provides　a　novel　modification　strategy　for　enhancing　the　dispersion　and　flame　retardant　efficiency　of　graphene.　(C)　2017　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.