Nanocarbons: Advances and Innovations

Dear Colleagues,

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the spherical fullerene C₆₀ (1985), this Special Issue offers a forward-looking perspective on nanocarbon research as we approach 2026, reflecting on the legacy being built for future generations.

Nanocarbon materials represent a diverse family of nanoscale carbon allotropes that have revolutionized materials science. Building upon the foundational discoveries of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene, pioneered by numerous researchers, the field continues to diversify rapidly. This expansion is driven by advancements in top-down and bottom-up synthesis, functionalization techniques, heteroatom doping, and, increasingly, predictive theoretical calculations and AI-driven design.

Notably, despite the breadth of research and development, a surprising number of these diverse nanocarbons remain unclassified—even as IUPAC has defined both "nano" and various carbon structures. Emerging nanocarbons often defy traditional classifications, underscoring the dynamic and transformative nature of this research frontier.

Understanding these new structures demands cutting-edge surface analysis techniques capable of resolving atomic-level details (size, shape, and defects). This is critical because the unique properties of all nanocarbons are intrinsically tied to their precise structure (dimensionality, chirality, doping, etc.). Consequently, achieving structural control during synthesis is paramount for realizing their potential in applications.

The modern emphasis on practical applications often requires large budgets for end-to-end research. This focus can inadvertently sideline promising materials research lacking immediate applicability, hindering publication and limiting recognition by applied scientists. Open access Special Issues like this one play a vital role in bridging that gap, offering a platform for early-stage discoveries to gain recognition and inspire future innovation.

This Special Issue provides a dedicated platform for researchers investigating diverse nanocarbon allotropes such as nanographene, graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), CNTs, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and other emerging systems. We welcome submissions of original research articles and short critical reviews of theoretical explorations or practical/experimental research in this dynamic field.

Dr. Soichiro Nakatsuka
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Surfaces is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• synthesis
• nanocarbon
• heteroatom doping
• graphene
• nanoribbon
• GNR
• Nanotube
• CNT
• fullerene
• nanodiamond
• defect
• allotrope