Superstructured carbon materials: design and energy applications

Carbon materials are key components in energy storage and conversion devices and most directly impact device performance. The need for advanced carbon materials has become more pressing with the increasing demand for high-performance energy conversion and storage facilities. Nonetheless, realizing significant performance improvements across devices remains challenging because of the difficulties in controlling irregularly organized microstructures and the specific carbon structures concerned. With the aim of realizing devisable structures, adjustable functions, and performance breakthroughs, this review proposes the concept of superstructured carbons. In fact, superstructured carbons are a category of carbon-based materials characterized by precisely built pores, networks, and interfaces. This unique category meets the particular functional demands of high-performance devices and exceeds the rigid structure of traditional carbons. In the context of these superstructured carbons, we present methods for realizing both custom-built structures and target-oriented functionalities. For specific energy-related reactions, we emphasize the targeted property-structure relationships in these well-defined superstructured carbons. Finally, future developments and practicability challenges of superstructured carbons are also proposed.