Preface

In the second part of the eighteenth century, carbon was identified as an element for the first time. "A.L. Lavoisier" introduced the name carbon in 1789 and derived from the Latin word "carbo" which signified "charcoal (or ember)" to the Romans. After hydrogen, oxygen, and helium, Carbon is 4th frequent element in our solar system (sun, stars, comets, and planets' atmospheres), the 6th most abundant prevalent element in the universe and in earth's crust, it is the 17th most extensive element. It is primarily found in hydrocarbons and other chemicals. Surprisingly after oxygen, carbon is found as 2nd abundant mineral in the human natural body, accounting for around 18% of a person's total weight. Although, carbon is in short supply on the earth's surface, with hardly 0.2% makes of the planet's whole mass. In spite of that, its function is extremely vital because it has the ability to establish links with other atomic nuclei and with itself. As a result, carbon's ability to catenation cleared the path for the advancement of chemistry (basis of organic chemistry), the rich diversity of structural forms of solid carbon, and biology, allowing for the emergence of life's marvels. Advanced carbon-based materials are considered the backbone of the coming generations' technological and scientific era especially in the divisions of materials-based industry, and nanotechnology, respectively. In recent times, advanced carbon-based materials are of significant highlight. Owing to efficient physical properties, from a technological perspective, it has been employed in the environment, energy, electronic and thermal applications, respectively. Due to the wide field of applications, twenty-first century is named as "Century of graphene". Graphene is considered an outstanding form of carbon owing to good electrical conductivity, suitable strength and efficient permeable properties. In the following chapters, we will review the basic forms, properties and significant structures of allotropes of carbon which will be beneficial from a technological perspective.

Because of its versatile chemical, physical, and electrical properties, graphene as well as its nanocomposites are regarded as the backbone of engineering and scientific innovation. Different physical and chemical methods are used to create sustainable carbon materials. Furthermore, fabrication methods are employed in order to produce the composites, which are of constituents with desirable properties. Because of their biocompatibility, graphene nanomaterials have enormous potential for improving biology and drug delivery. The proposed book provides a variety of fabrication methods for sustainable graphene composites and highlights various applications of graphene. Furthermore, graphene nanocomposites are promising multifunctional materials with improved tensile strength and elastic modulus. Despite some challenges and the fact that carbon nanotube/polymer composites are sometimes better in some specific performance, graphene nanocomposites may have a wide range of potential applications due to their outstanding properties and the low cost of graphene. Because these graphene composites have a controllable porous structure, a large surface area, high conductivity, high-temperature stability, excellent anti-corrosion properties, and composite compatibility, they can be used in energy storage as electrocatalysts, electro-conductive additives, intercalation hosts, and an

ideal substrate for active materials. Meanwhile, the book summarizes the graphene nanocomposite requirements, computational and physical properties studies for technological innovation and scientific applied research.

> **Mujtaba Ikram** Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

## **Asghari Maqsood**

Department of Physics, Air University, Islamabad, Pakistan

## **Aneeqa Bashir**

**1**

**Chapter 1**

Perspective

**1. Introduction to carbon**

Introductory Chapter: Brief

Allotropes – Technological

Scientific Description to Carbon

*Sara Baig, Muazzam Ahmed, Amna Batool, Aneeqa Bashir,* 

In the second part of the eighteenth century, carbon was identified as an element for the first time. "A.L. Lavoisier" introduced the name carbon in 1789 and derived from the Latin word "carbo" which signified "charcoal (or ember)" to the Romans. After hydrogen, oxygen, and helium, Carbon is 4th frequent element in our solar system(sun, stars, comets, and planets' atmospheres), the 6th abundant prevalent element in universe and in earth's crust, it is 17th most extensive elemen [1]. It is primarily found as hydrocarbons and other chemicals [2, 3]. Surprisingly after oxygen, carbon is found as 2nd abundant mineral in the human natural body [4], accounting for around 18% of a person's total weight. Although, carbon is in short supply on earth's surface, with hardly 0.2% makes of planet's whole mass [1, 3, 5]. In spite of that, its function is extremely vital because it has the ability to establish links with other atomic nuclei and with itself. As a result, carbon's ability of catenation cleared the path for the advancement of chemistry (basis of organic chemistry) [6], the rich diversity of structural forms of solid carbon [7], and biology, allowing for the emergence of life's marvels [4, 8]. Advanced carbon based material are considered backbone in coming generation technological scientific era especially in the divisions of materials based industry, and nanotechnology, respectively. During recent times, advanced carbon based materials are of significant highlight. Owing of efficient physical properties, from technological perspective, it has been employed in the environmnet, energy, electronic and thermal applications, respectively. Due to wide field of applications, twenty-first century is named as "Century of graphene". Graphene is considered as outstanding form of carbon owing to good electrical conductivity, suitable strength and efficient permeabile properties. In following chapter, we will review basics forms, properties and significant Structures of allotropes of carbon which will

*Saadia Mumtaz, Muhammad Ikram, Mohsin Saeed,* 

*Khurram Shahzad, Muhammad Umer Farooq,* 

*Asghari Maqsood and Mujtaba Ikram*

be beneficial from technological perspective.

Department of Physics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
