Nanostructured Carbon Materials as Catalysts

Abstract

In this chapter we review the most relevant applications of oxygen-containing nanostructured carbon materials as metal-free catalysts, ranging from fullerenes, nanotubes and nanofibers to nanodiamonds and graphene. The catalytic mechanism is discussed in light of the role of defects and surface oxygen groups for different industrially relevant applications, such as gas-phase oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes and aromatics, and oxidation/reduction and acid/base reactions taking place in the liquid-phase.