Author(s): Lucas Verhoeven, Sophie van Dijk and Mark de Jong

Abstract: Carbon-based materials have become fundamental to modern materials science due to their structural versatility, tunable properties, and wide-ranging technological applications. Among these materials, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and activated carbon have attracted sustained scientific and industrial interest over the past two decades. Graphene, a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon, exhibits exceptional electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and thermal stability, making it a promising candidate for next-generation electronics, energy storage systems, and advanced composites. Carbon nanotubes, characterized by their cylindrical nanostructure, offer high aspect ratios, superior tensile strength, and remarkable electron transport properties, which have enabled their use in nanoelectronics, sensors, and reinforced materials. Activated carbon, though comparatively traditional, remains indispensable owing to its high surface area, porous architecture, and strong adsorption capacity, particularly in environmental remediation and energy-related applications. Recent research trends emphasize scalable synthesis routes, surface functionalization strategies, and hybrid material development to overcome existing limitations such as high production costs, agglomeration, and performance instability. Advances in characterization techniques and computational modeling have further enhanced understanding of structure-property relationships in these carbon-based systems. Moreover, increasing attention is being paid to sustainable production methods, including biomass-derived precursors and low-energy processing routes, in response to environmental and economic concerns. This article provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of current trends in graphene, carbon nanotubes, and activated carbon, highlighting recent developments in synthesis, functionalization, and application domains. By critically examining progress across these three material classes, the research aims to elucidate converging research directions and identify opportunities for future innovation in carbon-based material science and engineering.

DOI: 10.22271/2707806X.2026.v7.i1a.52

Pages: 01-05 | Views: 31 | Downloads: 10

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