Editorial for Special Issue “Nanoporous Carbons for Hydrogen Sorption and Electrochemical Energy Storage”

Increasing global energy demand and the need for sustainable energy solutions have sparked significant interest in carbon-based materials for energy conversion and storage [1,2], along with hydrogen-related technologies [3,4]. Among these, nanoporous carbons stand out due to their tunable pore structure, high surface area, and ease of surface functionalization [5,6,7]. These unique properties make them excellent candidates for enhancing the performance of electrochemical systems and electrocatalytic devices by improving charge transport, ion accessibility, and catalytic activity [8,9,10,11]. This Special Issue of C—Journal of Carbon Research gathers original contributions exploring both fundamental and applied aspects of carbon-based materials in electrocatalysis—specifically for water splitting and oxygen reduction—as well as electrochemical energy storage using supercapacitors and batteries. The featured articles address diverse research challenges and innovations in the field of nanoporous carbon-based materials for energy-relevant reactions, including the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), alongside breakthroughs in battery and supercapacitor technologies. The articles are as follows:

• Morais et al. [12] developed Fe,N-doped, glucose-derived carbon nanotube hybrids, demonstrating enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the ORR through synergetic incorporation of Fe and N.
• Asare et al. [13] introduced algae-derived carbon obtained via hydrothermal liquefaction as a sustainable electrode material, highlighting its excellent long-term supercapacitor performance following KOH activation.
• Lima et al. [14] produced polypyrrole-doped activated biochar from wood waste, offering a sustainable pathway to high-performance supercapacitor electrodes.
• Ritopecki et al. [15] applied Density Functional Theory to study the impact of B concentration and surface oxidation in B-doped graphene, revealing significant improvements in Na and Al ion storage capacities.
• Wan et al. [16] reported the fabrication of Ni₂Co layered double hydroxide nanosheets on carbon substrates for water splitting, showcasing low overpotentials and high performance for both HER and OER through enhanced electron transfer.
• Gavrilov et al. [17] explored diammonium hydrogen phosphate-impregnated activated carbon fibers, achieving selective oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide while optimizing capacitive behavior.
• Colin et al. [18] presented fluorinated S-doped graphene as a cathode material for high-energy lithium batteries, attaining outstanding power and energy densities.
• Knabl et al. [19] synthesized Co-doped nanoporous graphene via plasma treatment, achieving multifunctionality for both OER-driven water splitting and supercapacitor applications.
• Kim et al. [20] demonstrated the promising performance of MXene-coated carbon nanofibers as pseudocapacitive electrodes, combining high specific capacitance with excellent stability.

Together, these articles provide a comprehensive overview of current advances in the synthesis, functionalization, and application of nanoporous carbon-based materials. They highlight the crucial role of material design and interface engineering in tuning electrochemical and catalytic properties for real-world energy applications.

We sincerely thank all contributing authors and the reviewers for their excellent efforts and insights. We also extend our appreciation to the editorial team of C for their continuous support. We hope this Special Issue will serve as a valuable reference for researchers in the fields of carbon science, hydrogen technologies, and electrochemical energy storage.