Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional Applications

Amidst global imperatives for sustainable energy and environmental remediation, carbon aerogels (CAs) present a transformative alternative to conventional carbon materials (e.g., activated carbon, carbon fibers), overcoming limitations of disordered pore structures, unmodifiable surface chemistry, a...

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Main Authors: Liying Li, Guiyu Jin, Jian Shen, Mengyan Guo, Jiacheng Song, Yiming Li, Jian Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/7/548
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author Liying Li
Guiyu Jin
Jian Shen
Mengyan Guo
Jiacheng Song
Yiming Li
Jian Xiong
author_facet Liying Li
Guiyu Jin
Jian Shen
Mengyan Guo
Jiacheng Song
Yiming Li
Jian Xiong
author_sort Liying Li
collection DOAJ
description Amidst global imperatives for sustainable energy and environmental remediation, carbon aerogels (CAs) present a transformative alternative to conventional carbon materials (e.g., activated carbon, carbon fibers), overcoming limitations of disordered pore structures, unmodifiable surface chemistry, and functional inflexibility. This review systematically examines CA-based electrochemical systems as its primary focus, analyzing fundamental charge-storage mechanisms and establishing structure–property–application relationships critical to energy storage performance. We critically assess synthesis methodologies, emphasizing how stage-specific parameters govern structural/functional traits, and detail multifunctional modification strategies (e.g., heteroatom doping, composite engineering) that enhance electrochemical behavior through pore architecture optimization, surface chemistry tuning, and charge-transfer kinetics acceleration. Electrochemical applications are extensively explored, including the following: 1. Energy storage: supercapacitors (dual EDLC/pseudocapacitive mechanisms) and battery hybrids. 2. Electrocatalysis: HER, OER, ORR, and CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR). 3. Electrochemical processing: capacitive deionization (CDI) and electrosorption. Beyond this core scope, we briefly acknowledge CA versatility in ancillary domains: environmental remediation (heavy metal removal, oil/water separation), flame retardancy, microwave absorption, and CO<sub>2</sub> capture.
format Article
id doaj-art-4d0a9afe58da4cd392b0d65ac92c6e38
institution Kabale University
issn 2310-2861
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Gels
spelling doaj-art-4d0a9afe58da4cd392b0d65ac92c6e382025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-07-0111754810.3390/gels11070548Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional ApplicationsLiying Li0Guiyu Jin1Jian Shen2Mengyan Guo3Jiacheng Song4Yiming Li5Jian Xiong6School of Ecology and Environment, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, ChinaCollege of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, ChinaAmidst global imperatives for sustainable energy and environmental remediation, carbon aerogels (CAs) present a transformative alternative to conventional carbon materials (e.g., activated carbon, carbon fibers), overcoming limitations of disordered pore structures, unmodifiable surface chemistry, and functional inflexibility. This review systematically examines CA-based electrochemical systems as its primary focus, analyzing fundamental charge-storage mechanisms and establishing structure–property–application relationships critical to energy storage performance. We critically assess synthesis methodologies, emphasizing how stage-specific parameters govern structural/functional traits, and detail multifunctional modification strategies (e.g., heteroatom doping, composite engineering) that enhance electrochemical behavior through pore architecture optimization, surface chemistry tuning, and charge-transfer kinetics acceleration. Electrochemical applications are extensively explored, including the following: 1. Energy storage: supercapacitors (dual EDLC/pseudocapacitive mechanisms) and battery hybrids. 2. Electrocatalysis: HER, OER, ORR, and CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR). 3. Electrochemical processing: capacitive deionization (CDI) and electrosorption. Beyond this core scope, we briefly acknowledge CA versatility in ancillary domains: environmental remediation (heavy metal removal, oil/water separation), flame retardancy, microwave absorption, and CO<sub>2</sub> capture.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/7/548carbon aerogelselectrochemistrywater treatment and adsorption
spellingShingle Liying Li
Guiyu Jin
Jian Shen
Mengyan Guo
Jiacheng Song
Yiming Li
Jian Xiong
Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional Applications
Gels
carbon aerogels
electrochemistry
water treatment and adsorption
title Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional Applications
title_full Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional Applications
title_fullStr Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional Applications
title_full_unstemmed Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional Applications
title_short Carbon Aerogels: Synthesis, Modification, and Multifunctional Applications
title_sort carbon aerogels synthesis modification and multifunctional applications
topic carbon aerogels
electrochemistry
water treatment and adsorption
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/7/548
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AT mengyanguo carbonaerogelssynthesismodificationandmultifunctionalapplications
AT jiachengsong carbonaerogelssynthesismodificationandmultifunctionalapplications
AT yimingli carbonaerogelssynthesismodificationandmultifunctionalapplications
AT jianxiong carbonaerogelssynthesismodificationandmultifunctionalapplications