Recent advances in porous graphitic frameworks: a critical mini-review

Abstract

Porous graphitic frameworks (PGFs) represent a rapidly maturing class of sp²-carbon architectures that reconcile the traditionally antagonistic requirements of very-high surface area, hierarchical mass-transport pathways, and metallic-level electronic conductivity. This mini-review critically surveys the latest advances in their bottom-up construction, from hard-templated and chemical-vapor-deposited networks to emerging inside-out activation–graphitization protocols. This review also correlates these synthetic routes with key structural attributes, surface area, pore-size distribution, and graphitic domain continuity, and elucidates their role in providing exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance metrics. Application case studies include high-rate supercapacitors, single-atom electrocatalysts, Ångström-precision gas-separation membranes, chemiresistive sensors, and high-capacity adsorbents. Data-driven process control, molten-salt-mediated doping, and additive manufacturing are expected to deliver application-specific PGFs at scale, while advanced functionalization strategies decouple active-site chemistry from bulk conductivity. Collectively, the combination of sustainable synthesis, tunable nanochemistry, and wide applications makes PGFs an effective material platform for next-generation energy, environmental, and electronic technologies.