Exploring T-carbon for Energy Applications

Abstract

Seeking for next-generation energy sources that are economic, sustainable (renewable), clean (environment-friendly), and abundant in earth is crucial when facing the challenges of energy crisis. There have been numerous studies exploring the possibility of carbon based materials to be utilized in future energy applications. In this paper, we introduce T-carbon, which is a theoretically predicted but recently experimentally synthesized carbon allotrope, as a promising material for next-generation energy applications. It is shown that T-carbon can be potentially used in thermoelectrics, hydrogen storage, lithium ion batteries, \emph{etc}. The challenges, opportunities, and possible directions for future studies of energy applications of T-carbon are also addressed. With the development of more environment-friendly technologies, the promising applications of T-carbon in energy fields would not only produce scientifically significant impact in related fields but also lead to a number of industrial and technical applications.