Nanocarbons: Opening New Possibilities for Nano-engineered Novel Catalysts and Catalytic Electrodes

Nanocarbons find increasing relevance for the development of advanced, sometimes radically new, catalysts and catalytic electrodes. This perspective contribution discusses the potential of nanocarbons as a new class of catalytic materials, even if carbons (in the form mainly of active carbon materials) are already extensively applied as supports for catalysts. The control of nano-dimension and the improved understanding in tailoring the surface reactivity open new possibilities for their nano-engineering and the development of novel catalytic materials. With focus on the nature of the active sites in nanocarbon catalysts, we discuss here some of the novel possibilities opened by these materials to address the new challenges for catalysis deriving from moving to a more sustainable chemical and energy production.