Carbonsupported

Carbon-supported refers to composite materials in which active catalytic species are dispersed on a carbon-based support. The carbon scaffold provides electrical conductivity, high surface area, and porosity that improve particle dispersion and electron transfer during reactions. The choice of carbon type influences stability, accessibility of active sites, and interactions with the active phase.

Common carbon supports include carbon black (such as Vulcan XC-72), activated carbon, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and mesoporous carbons. These materials offer high surface area, tunable porosity, and variable surface chemistry. Surface modification, including oxidation or heteroatom doping, can enhance metal anchoring and control wettability.

Preparation methods combine impregnation or deposition of metal or catalytic species onto the carbon, followed by reduction or annealing. Other approaches include in situ growth, colloidal deposition, and pyrolysis of precursors. Functionalization of the carbon surface improves metal-support interactions and helps stabilize small particles.

Applications span electrocatalysis, such as fuel cell and electrolyzer catalysts (notably platinum on carbon, Pt/C), and other non-precious metal systems. Carbon-supported materials are also used in energy storage devices like supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, where carbon conductivity and porosity enable fast charge transport and high active-site accessibility. They see use in sensors and environmental remediation as well.

Key considerations include particle dispersion, size control, conductivity, and chemical stability. Carbon supports can degrade under harsh conditions through oxidation or corrosion, potentially leading to catalyst decay. Strategies to improve durability include using graphitic carbons, nitrogen or other dopants to strengthen metal-support binding, alloying the active phase, and encapsulating nanoparticles.

In research and industry, carbon-supported catalysts form a modular platform for designing efficient, scalable, and cost-effective catalytic systems across energy and chemical processes.