Author(s): Lukas Reinhardt and Anna Vogelmann

Abstract: Carbon-based materials have emerged as a cornerstone of modern materials science due to their structural diversity, tunable physicochemical properties, and broad technological relevance. Among them, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and activated carbon represent three major classes that have driven significant scientific and industrial advancements over the past two decades. Graphene, a two-dimensional sheet of sp²-hybridized carbon atoms, exhibits exceptional electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal stability, making it highly attractive for electronics, energy storage, and sensing applications. Carbon nanotubes, derived from rolled graphene sheets, combine high aspect ratios with superior electrical and mechanical properties, enabling their use in composites, nanoelectronics, and biomedical systems. Activated carbon, characterized by its high surface area and porous structure, continues to play a critical role in adsorption-based processes, including water purification, gas separation, and energy storage technologies. Recent research trends emphasize scalable synthesis routes, surface functionalization, and hybrid material design to overcome existing limitations such as high production costs, agglomeration, and performance variability. Advances in chemical vapor deposition, biomass-derived carbon synthesis, and environmentally benign activation processes have contributed to improved material consistency and sustainability. Additionally, integration of carbon-based materials with polymers, metals, and ceramics has expanded their functional scope across multidisciplinary applications. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in terms of large-scale manufacturing, long-term stability, environmental impact, and standardization of material properties. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of structure-property relationships and a balanced evaluation of performance, cost, and sustainability. This article reviews current trends in graphene, carbon nanotubes, and activated carbon, highlighting recent progress in synthesis, properties, and applications. Emphasis is placed on identifying common challenges and emerging strategies that shape future research directions in carbon-based materials for advanced technological applications.

DOI: 10.22271/27078221.2026.v7.i1a.98

Pages: 14-18 | Views: 24 | Downloads: 6

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