Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
3.2
Journals
Materials
Special Issues
Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition
Due to scheduled maintenance work on our servers, there may be short service disruptions on this website between 11:00 and 12:00 CEST on March 28th.
materials-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Materials Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Carbon Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 4553

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Iwona Zawierucha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
Interests: polymer inclusion membranes; water and wastewater treatment; membrane technologies; separation processes; removal of metal ions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Malina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: green/sustainable (bio)remediation; contaminants fate in soil-water systems; permeable reactive barriers; bioavailability; integrated water management; environmental risk assessment, solid waste management; treatment of aqueous waste streams; brownfields re-development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Carbonaceous materials have revolutionized the field of materials science due to their adaptability and range of uses. Our Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements in the synthesis and characterization of carbonaceous materials, which are unique in their morphology and properties, for application various purposes. Carbonaceous materials such as biochar, carbon nanotubes, graphene, fullerene, activated carbon, and cyclodextrin polymers demonstrate superior performance in multiple applications.

We invite researchers to contribute their original research articles, communications, and reviews to this Special Issue. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel methods and techniques for the synthesis and fabrication of carbonaceous materials;
  • Modification of the carbonaceous materials; composites and hybrids with tailored properties;
  • Presenting advanced techniques and tools for characterizing the structure and properties of carbonaceous materials, providing insights into their behavior in different environments;
  • Carbonaceous materials for the membrane separation process;
  • Carbonaceous materials for the removal of pollutants from water and wastewater;
  • Applications of carbonaceous materials in fields such as agriculture, energy storage, CO2 capture, and more.

We hope this Special Issue will inspire further research on the fabrication of novel carbonaceous materials. We also aim to propose efficient and sustainable methods for modifying materials to enhance their performance.

Dr. Iwona Zawierucha
Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Malina
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biochar
  • carbon nanotubes
  • graphene
  • fullerene
  • activated carbon
  • cyclodextrin polymers
  • composites and hybrids
  • water and wastewater treatment
  • various applications of carbonaceous materials

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 1894 KB  
Article
Circular Approach to Composite Materials: Synthesis of Carbon Nanomaterials from Polymer Recycling Liquid By-Products
by Evangelos Tsimis, Stefania Termine, Maria Modestou, Aikaterini-Flora Trompeta, Szymon Sobek, Marcin Sajdak, Jakub Adamek, Sebastian Werle and Costas Charitidis
Materials 2026, 19(6), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061266 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 185
Abstract
The growing volume of fiber-reinforced polymer composite waste creates an urgent need for efficient recycling technologies. While solvolysis effectively breaks down thermoset matrices for fiber reinforcement recovery, the process generates hydrocarbon-rich liquid by-products that require further management. This study validates the use of [...] Read more.
The growing volume of fiber-reinforced polymer composite waste creates an urgent need for efficient recycling technologies. While solvolysis effectively breaks down thermoset matrices for fiber reinforcement recovery, the process generates hydrocarbon-rich liquid by-products that require further management. This study validates the use of these liquid recycling streams—derived from the solvolysis of unsaturated polyester and epoxy resins—as sustainable carbon precursors for the growth of carbon nanomaterials. Synthesis was performed via catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at 850 °C using iron nanoparticles impregnated on a zeolite substrate. Morphological analysis confirmed the production of one-dimensional nanostructures (carbon nanotubes/nanofibers), with average diameters below 100 nm. Raman spectroscopy revealed a high degree of graphitization, with ID/IG ratios ranging from 0.25 to 0.58, which is comparable to structures synthesized from conventional precursors. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated high thermal stability and carbon purity reaching up to 90.3%. These findings demonstrate a viable upcycling pathway that enhances the economic attractiveness of composite recycling by transforming waste into advanced nanomaterials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 3666 KB  
Article
The Use of Artificial Neural Networks to Model Selected Strength Parameters of the Giant Miscanthus Stalk
by Sławomir Francik, Tomasz Hebda, Beata Brzychczyk, Renata Francik and Zbigniew Ślipek
Materials 2026, 19(6), 1162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061162 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 298
Abstract
The aim of this work was to develop a model using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to predict stem cutting parameters for giant miscanthus. Experimental studies were conducted to determine biometric traits: maximum stem diameter (Dmax), minimum stem diameter (Dmin), [...] Read more.
The aim of this work was to develop a model using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to predict stem cutting parameters for giant miscanthus. Experimental studies were conducted to determine biometric traits: maximum stem diameter (Dmax), minimum stem diameter (Dmin), stem wall thickness (THwall), and strength parameters (cutting force, cutting work) for two giant miscanthus genotypes, depending on the internode number (NrNod) and water content (MC). A total of 600 measurement results were obtained, which were randomly divided into training (60%), test (20%), and validation (20%) subsets. Two semantic models were adopted: one for predicting stem cutting force (ann1) and one for predicting cutting work (ann2). The independent variables (ANN inputs) were: Gen, MC, NrNod, Dmax, Dmin, and THwall. The ANN creation process was performed using Statistica Neural Networks. For each of the two semantic models (ANN1 and ANN2), 100 neural networks were developed, with the top 10 ANNs retained for further analysis. The criterion for selecting the best neural network was the root mean square error (RMSE) for the test subset. For ANN1, the RMSE values varied from 6.89 N to 8.70 N. For ANN2, the RMSE values varied from 0.086 J to 0.102 J. For the most accurate ANN1-03 (MLP 7-10-1), used to predict grass cutting force, the RMSE values were 6.46 N–6.89 N–4.70 N for the training, test, and validation subsets. For the most accurate ANN2-02 (MLP 7-10-1), used to predict grass cutting work, the RMSE values were 0.0646 J–0.0857 J–0.0596 J for the training, test, and validation subsets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 4671 KB  
Article
Ultrafast High-Temperature Synthesis of Battery-Grade Graphite Through Energy-Effective Joule Heating: A Combined Experimental and Simulation Study
by Jie-Cong Liu, Qi Li, Salvatore Grasso, Baptiste Py, Zi-Long Wang, Francesco Ciucci, Hua-Tay Lin, Li-Guo Wang, Guang-Lin Nie and Fei Zuo
Materials 2026, 19(2), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020348 - 15 Jan 2026
Viewed by 623
Abstract
This work introduces ultrafast high-temperature graphitization (UHG) as an effective method to synthesize graphite with significantly reduced processing times of about 100 s and reduced consumed energy, as opposed to conventional methods that require several days at 2800 K. This novel process achieves [...] Read more.
This work introduces ultrafast high-temperature graphitization (UHG) as an effective method to synthesize graphite with significantly reduced processing times of about 100 s and reduced consumed energy, as opposed to conventional methods that require several days at 2800 K. This novel process achieves graphitization of up to 90% within a few minutes due to the accelerated kinetics occurring at temperatures as high as 3400 K. Samples processed using UHG attained stable cyclic capacities of 350 mAh/g, which is fully comparable to commercially available graphite. Finite Element Simulations were also used to calculate the energy consumption for a scaled-up configuration, and it was found that the UHG approach reaches ultra-low energy consumption, requiring only 2.4 MJ/kg for the direct conversion of coke into graphite. By minimizing the duration of high-temperature processing and employing localized heating, UHG is envisioned to mitigate some of the challenges associated with traditional Acheson furnaces that have been in use for more than a century. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

11 pages, 2879 KB  
Communication
Green Technique for Producing Carbon-Based Catalysts for Cellulose Hydrolysis
by Siqi Deng, Kaixun Yao, Manabu Kodama, Oi Lun Li and Nozomi Takeuchi
Materials 2025, 18(21), 5031; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18215031 - 5 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 597
Abstract
Sulfonated carbon catalysts, as a type of solid protonic acid, have been widely recommended for various applications. However, syntheses of them typically require strict conditions, posing challenges in efficiency and environmental impact. Herein, we report a rapid, acid-free method to introduce sulfonic and [...] Read more.
Sulfonated carbon catalysts, as a type of solid protonic acid, have been widely recommended for various applications. However, syntheses of them typically require strict conditions, posing challenges in efficiency and environmental impact. Herein, we report a rapid, acid-free method to introduce sulfonic and sulfate ester groups onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by simply stirring them in an aqueous sodium persulfate solution (Na2S2O8) at room temperature. Within 45 min, the treated CNTs reached sulfur-containing acid densities up to 0.34 mmol g−1 without thermal treatment and hazardous reagents. The resulting catalyst demonstrated effective performance in terms of cellulose hydrolysis, attaining 31.6% conversion and 23.2% glucose yield. The process requires only the energy input of magnetic stirring, underscoring its environmental and practical advantages. This simple approach provides a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for the preparation of carbon-based catalysts, offering significant potential for biomass conversion and other green-chemistry applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 5990 KB  
Article
Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B in the Presence of TiO2-BiVO4
by Anli Sun, Chao Kong, Jie Wang, Beihai Zhou, Huilun Chen, Rongfang Yuan and Zhiming Bai
Materials 2025, 18(18), 4253; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18184253 - 11 Sep 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1257
Abstract
The discharge of printing and dyeing wastewater has become a key concern in global water pollution control due to its high pollutant concentration, dark color, refractory biodegradability and toxic characteristics. Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technology has gained widespread attention as it can effectively treat refractory [...] Read more.
The discharge of printing and dyeing wastewater has become a key concern in global water pollution control due to its high pollutant concentration, dark color, refractory biodegradability and toxic characteristics. Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technology has gained widespread attention as it can effectively treat refractory organic pollutants. In this study, titanium dioxide (TiO2)–bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) composite materials were synthesized through the sol–gel/solvothermal hybrid method, and layered heterojunction structures were fabricated via sol–gel precursor preparation followed by spin-coating deposition. The PEC degradation efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) was systematically evaluated under varying operational conditions in the presence of TiO2-BiVO4. The four-layer BiVO4/four-layer TiO2 material showed the optimal catalytic activity among the tested structures, achieving an 80.3% removal of RhB under an applied bias of 4 V and illumination intensity of 14,000 lx. Through the equilibrium adjustment of the Fermi levels, the type Ⅱ heterostructure was formed. Moreover, superoxide radical (O2−) was identified as the predominant reactive oxygen species driving the degradation mechanism. Mechanistic analysis revealed that RhB degradation was accomplished through deethylation, benzene ring cleavage, and subsequent ring-opening mineralization. This study prepared an efficient PEC material, which provides a theoretical basis for the PEC treatment of printing and dyeing wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 3787 KB  
Article
Agrifood Waste Valorization: Development of Biochar from Peach Kernel or Grape Pits for Cr6+ Removal from Plating Wastewater
by Elena Raluca Cârjilă (Mihalache), Oanamari Daniela Orbuleț, Magdalena Bosomoiu, Cristina Modrogan, Eugenia Tanasă, Annette Madelene Dăncilă and Gabriel Gârleanu
Materials 2025, 18(17), 4151; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174151 - 4 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1207
Abstract
In the context of circular economy, waste generated by fruit processing can be used to produce new materials with a wide range of uses. This study presents a method to synthesize biochar from peach kernel or grape pit waste. The adsorbents were tested [...] Read more.
In the context of circular economy, waste generated by fruit processing can be used to produce new materials with a wide range of uses. This study presents a method to synthesize biochar from peach kernel or grape pit waste. The adsorbents were tested in the removal of hexavalent chromium from synthetic wastewater with Cr6+ concentrations specific to plating processes. Characterization by BET, SEM, FTIR, and TG-DTG confirmed the formation of porous structures, and a well-functionalized surface. The effects of contact time, initial Cr6+ concentration, and adsorbent dose were investigated in static conditions. Both materials are efficient in hexavalent chromium removal, with sorption equilibrium achieved within 180 min. Kinetic studies indicated that the removal process follows a pseudo-second-order model. Equilibrium studies showed that optimal sorption occurred at pH = 6, with sorption capacities of 78.54 mg/g for biochar from peach kernels and 67.57 mg/g for biochar from grape pits. Hexavalent chromium followed a Sips adsorption isotherm for both biochars. Following the reusability study, it can be concluded that biochar from peach kernels maintains removal efficiency higher than 75% after four cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbonaceous Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications—Second Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop