Synthesis and applications of carbon porous nano-materials for environmental remediation

Abstract

Carbon-based porous materials are widely used as adsorbents due to their high adsorption capacity and unique properties such as large pore size, sizeable area-to-volume ratio, high thermal & electrical conductivity etc., to remove pollutant from water and thus helps in water remediation. Water contamination poses severe impacts on humans as well as on marine life. In this review, we studied porous carbon materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes and activated carbon, including their synthesis, properties and wide applications in water remediation. Absorbent materials at different scales for these applications are auspicious for environmental remediation. This review also provides future endeavors of carbon porous materials towards sustainable techniques for an eco-friendly environment.

Cellulose‐based smart materials: Novel synthesis techniques, properties, and applications in energy storage and conversion devices

“…Recently, there has been considerable interest in NC as an eco‐friendly precursor for producing carbonaceous materials. High‐temperature pyrolysis on NC in an inert atmosphere transforms it into conductive carbon materials 180,181 . Vocht et al 182 .…”

“…High-temperature pyrolysis on NC in an inert atmosphere transforms it into conductive carbon materials. 180,181 Vocht et al 182 presented the novel stabilization process using a low-pressure furnace combined with an ammonium tosylate carbonization agent, which significantly enhances the mechanical properties of cellulose-derived CFs. Stabilization dwell time influences properties, with increased time leading to higher elongation at break.…”

Revolutionizing electrochemical CO2 reduction to deeply reduced products on non-Cu-based electrocatalysts

“…Metal-free electrocatalysts, especially carbon-based materials, have attracted a lot of attention due to the following merits: (i) high electron conductivity, which facilitates fast electron transfer to/from the active sites; 186 (ii) large specific surface area, allowing exposure of active sites and lowering of potential mass-transport related energy loss; 187 (iii) tunable electronic structure: the flexibility of orbital hybridization (e.g., sp, sp 2 and sp 3 ) of carbon allows its electronic structure to be readily modified by dopants such as B, N, P, S, and O; 106,188 moreover, carbon atoms adjacent to dopant atom(s) can serve as the active sites toward eCO 2 RR; [189][190][191] (iv) stability under extreme conditions such as strong acid and alkali environments; 192 and (v) the natural abundance of carbon makes it easily accessible and relatively low-cost. Because of the above features, carbon-based materials have found great success in several electrochemical catalytic systems, 193 and these features are expected to be beneficial for eCO 2 RR catalysis. The fact that carbon does not have d-band electrons makes it free from the constraint of scaling relationship that applies to transition metal surfaces.…”

“…, sp, sp 2 and sp 3 ) of carbon allows its electronic structure to be readily modified by dopants such as B, N, P, S, and O; 106,188 moreover, carbon atoms adjacent to dopant atom(s) can serve as the active sites toward eCO 2 RR; 189–191 (iv) stability under extreme conditions such as strong acid and alkali environments; 192 and (v) the natural abundance of carbon makes it easily accessible and relatively low-cost. Because of the above features, carbon-based materials have found great success in several electrochemical catalytic systems, 193 and these features are expected to be beneficial for eCO 2 RR catalysis. The fact that carbon does not have d-band electrons makes it free from the constraint of scaling relationship that applies to transition metal surfaces.…”