Carbon Materials: A Comprehensive Guide

Carbon materials are a general term for solid materials based on carbon. They are usually composed of graphite microcrystals. There are many types of carbon materials with excellent performance and broad application prospects.

I. Properties of carbon materials

Physical properties

Carbon materials have physical properties such as high light transmittance, high electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, and high corrosion resistance. Its light transmission can be good as that of glass, and its electrical and thermal conductivity can be good as that of copper and aluminum.

Chemical properties

Carbon material is a corrosion-resistant material with high chemical stability and good corrosion resistance to most acids, alkalis, and salts.

II.. Detailed explanation of the main types

Graphite

Graphite is a layered structure of carbon atoms, composed of hexagonal grid planes. Each carbon atom has four free electrons. Graphite has good electrical and thermal conductivity, suitable for making electrodes, heat exchangers and other fields. Graphite can be divided into natural graphite and artificial graphite, both of which have similar structures, so their physical and chemical properties are similar, but they are quite different in application.

Activated carbon

Activated carbon is a kind of specially treated carbon, with a well-developed pore structure and a large surface area. Because of its strong adsorption capacity, large specific surface area, developed internal pore structure, low bulk density and other characteristics, it is widely used in water purification, desulfurization, denitrification, recovery solvent, emergency adsorption, mercury removal and many other fields. At the same time, activated carbon is often used as a catalyst or catalyst carrier in chemical reactions such as gas preparation and reforming.

Carbon nanotube

Carbon nanotube is one-dimensional nanomaterials with excellent properties of high strength and high electrical and thermal conductivity.  And the downstream applications of it mainly cover the new energy vehicle industry, 3C digital industry, semiconductor industry, power infrastructure and other fields. The demand for large-scale commercial applications of carbon nanotube mainly comes from the field of lithium batteries and conductive plastics, of which more than 80% of the demand comes from lithium batteries.

Graphene

Graphene is a two-dimensional carbon material consisted of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern. It is the basic structural element of many other heteromorphs of carbon, such as graphite, diamond, carbon, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. With excellent optical, mechanical, and electrical features, its application foreground in micro-nano processing, materials science, energy, drug delivery, and biomedicine is more than vital, and it is regarded as a promising material in the next decades.

Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber is a high-strength, high-modulus fiber material with a carbon content of more than 90%. It is formed by the cracking and carbonization of organic fibers such as polyacrylonitrile (or asphalt and viscose) in a high-temperature environment. It has the characteristics of light weight, high strength, high modulus, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. This makes carbon fiber a strategic new material in the modern high-tech field and known as the “king of new materials”. Carbon fibers can be classified in various ways, and can be divided into polyacrylonitrile-based (PAN-CF), viscose-based (Rayon-CF) and asphalt-based carbon fibers (Pitch-CF) according to different raw materials.

III. Fields of Application

New energy field:

Carbon materials have a wide range of applications in the field of new energy. For instance, carbon matrix composites can be used to make high-efficiency batteries and supercapacitors. Graphene can be used to make solar cells and wind power blades. With the continuous development of new energy technology, the application prospect of carbon materials in the field of new energy will be broader.

Automotive:

Carbon materials are used in the automotive sector to make lightweight components and high-efficiency engine components. For example, carbon fiber composites can be used to make car bodies and parts to improve their lightweight and high performance. Graphene can also be used to make high-efficiency fuel cells to improve the power and economic performance of vehicles.

Aerospace:

Carbon materials can be used in the aerospace field to make high-performance aircraft and spacecraft among other things. For example, carbon fiber composites can be used to make lightweight wings and fuselages to improve their performance. Graphene can also be used to make high-performance aero engines to improve the power and economic performance of aircraft.

Industries:

Carbon materials are used in the industrial sector to make high-performance components and tools. For example, carbon fiber composites can be used to make advanced mechanical parts and industrial pipes and so on to improve their performance and service life. In addition, graphene can also be used to make high-efficiency pumps and valves to improve industrial production efficiency.

Medical field

Carbon materials are ideal materials for surgical implants. And implants such as artificial bones, artificial hips, knee joints, and heart valves have been successfully manufactured.

Semiconductors

Carbon materials can be used to manufacture semiconductor thermal field components, electrode materials, heat dissipation substrates, package housings, inspection probes, and more.

Photovoltaic field

Carbon materials are import substitution of high-purity isostatic graphite products. Therefore, carbon materials have been successfully realized in the photovoltaic thermal field system and widely used as a long crystal consumable in photovoltaic thermal field. Such as crucibles, diversion cylinders, insulation cylinders, etc.

Energy sector

Carbon materials have a wide range of applications in the energy sector. For example, graphene can be used as an electrode material for solar cells and lithium batteries to improve the energy density and charging and discharging speed of batteries. Carbon nanotubes can be used as hydrogen storage materials to improve the amount and rate of hydrogen storage. Carbon fiber can be used as a catalyst carrier for fuel cells to improve the activity and stability of the catalyst.

Environmental field

Carbon materials also have a wide range of applications in the environmental field. For example, graphene can be used in the field of water treatment and air purification to improve treatment efficiency and purification effect. Carbon nanotubes can be used to adsorb and remove harmful substances in water and air. Carbon fiber can be used to make environmental sensors that monitor the levels of chemicals and pollutants in the environment.

V. Future Prospects

The new material industry is an important support for high-end fields such as biomedicine, information technology, and new energy, and carbon materials. And as an important component, carbon materials have a strategic position. In recent years, the carbon family has expanded to include diamond, carbon fiber, carbon/carbon composites, graphite, hard carbon, graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots, …… Its application scenarios are also constantly expanding, accelerating the innovation of the ecological industry chain of various industries. In addition, since 2024, the low-altitude economy has risen rapidly. As a key material in the upstream of the industrial chain, carbon fiber and its composite materials will contribute an important force to promote the development of the low-altitude economy. Therefore, we have reason to believe that the prospects of the carbon material industry are very broad.