Issue 9, 2022

Iron-catalyzed graphitization for the synthesis of nanostructured graphitic carbons

Abstract

Carbons are versatile and diverse materials that have numerous applications across energy and environmental sciences. Carbons with a graphitic structure are particularly appealing due to their high chemical stability, large surface areas and high thermal and electronic conductivity. Numerous methods exist to produce nanostructured graphitic carbons but some of these can be energy-intensive and/or have problems with scalability. One option that is being increasingly explored is the process of iron-catalyzed graphitization. This simply involves the pyrolysis of carbon-rich precursors in the presence of an iron catalyst and has been used to produce carbons with a wide range of structures and properties. This review will examine the current field of iron-catalyzed graphitization, with a focus on molecular organic or biomass precursors. Bio-derived precursors are particularly attractive as a potential option for sustainable production of graphitic carbons. We start with a brief introduction to some key carbon structures, the current applications in which they are employed and some of the key methods that have been developed to produce nanostructured graphitic carbons. We will then review the history of catalytic graphitization before evaluating the wide range of conditions and precursors that have been employed in catalytic graphitization. Finally, this review will investigate the current challenges facing iron-catalyzed graphitization, looking particularly at the limitations of the current understanding of the mechanistic aspects of graphitization, with a view to outlining where research in this field might progress.

Graphical abstract: Iron-catalyzed graphitization for the synthesis of nanostructured graphitic carbons

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
10 Nov. 2021
Accepted
07 Febr. 2022
First published
07 Febr. 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022,10, 4489-4516

Iron-catalyzed graphitization for the synthesis of nanostructured graphitic carbons

R. D. Hunter, J. Ramírez-Rico and Z. Schnepp, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022, 10, 4489 DOI: 10.1039/D1TA09654K

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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