Nasir Salisu, Hussein Mohd Zobir, Zainal Zulkarnain, Yusof Nor Azah
Materials Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory (MSCL), Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Federal University Dutse, 7156 Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
Materials (Basel). 2018 Feb 13;11(2):295. doi: 10.3390/ma11020295.
Carbon in its single entity and various forms has been used in technology and human life for many centuries. Since prehistoric times, carbon-based materials such as graphite, charcoal and carbon black have been used as writing and drawing materials. In the past two and a half decades or so, conjugated carbon nanomaterials, especially carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, activated carbon and graphite have been used as energy materials due to their exclusive properties. Due to their outstanding chemical, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, carbon nanostructures have recently found application in many diverse areas; including drug delivery, electronics, composite materials, sensors, field emission devices, energy storage and conversion, etc. Following the global energy outlook, it is forecasted that the world energy demand will double by 2050. This calls for a new and efficient means to double the energy supply in order to meet the challenges that forge ahead. Carbon nanomaterials are believed to be appropriate and promising (when used as energy materials) to cushion the threat. Consequently, the amazing properties of these materials and greatest potentials towards greener and environment friendly synthesis methods and industrial scale production of carbon nanostructured materials is undoubtedly necessary and can therefore be glimpsed as the focal point of many researchers in science and technology in the 21st century. This is based on the incredible future that lies ahead with these smart carbon-based materials. This review is determined to give a synopsis of new advances towards their synthesis, properties, and some applications as reported in the existing literatures.
碳以其单一实体和多种形式在技术和人类生活中已被使用了许多世纪。自史前时代以来，碳基材料如石墨、木炭和炭黑就被用作书写和绘图材料。在过去大约二十五年中，共轭碳纳米材料，特别是碳纳米管、富勒烯、活性炭和石墨，因其独特性能而被用作能源材料。由于其出色的化学、机械、电气和热性能，碳纳米结构最近在许多不同领域得到了应用；包括药物递送、电子学、复合材料、传感器、场发射器件、能量存储和转换等。根据全球能源展望，预计到2050年世界能源需求将翻一番。这就需要一种新的高效手段来使能源供应翻番，以应对未来的挑战。碳纳米材料被认为是应对这一威胁的合适且有前景（用作能源材料时）的选择。因此，这些材料的惊人性能以及朝着更绿色、环境友好的合成方法和碳纳米结构材料工业规模生产的巨大潜力无疑是必要的，因此可以被视为21世纪许多科技研究人员的焦点。这是基于这些智能碳基材料所蕴含的令人难以置信的未来。本综述旨在概述现有文献中报道的关于它们的合成、性能和一些应用的新进展。
