About the prospects of the industrial production of the carbon nanomaterials from coal
A.R. El Zanin, S.V. Boroznin, N.P. Boroznina, I.V. Zaporotskova
Volgograd State University
DOI: 10.26456/pcascnn/2025.17.779
Review
Abstract: In this paper, an analysis of the current state of the domestic coal industry was carried out based on up-to-date statistical data, key challenges and risks associated with both global trends and factors of external economic pressure were described. As a possible measure to support the profitability of coal mining and ensure the socio-economic sustainability of the regions involved in this sphere, it is proposed to consider the production of carbon nanomaterials from coal. The rapidly growing market of carbon nanomaterials could provide an additional incentive for the development of knowledge-intensive and high-tech enterprises based on the coal industry. Various groups of methods allowing obtaining carbon nanomaterials from coal were considered, including ultrasonic liquid-phase exfoliation, hydro- and solvothermal synthesis, direct chemical synthesis, assuming no need for energy-consuming processes, mechanochemical activation, arc-discharge and plasmochemical methods, chemical vapor deposition. As part of the consideration of each of the approaches, a detailed description is given of the techniques that make it possible to obtain a wide variety of carbon nanomaterials: carbon quantum dots, graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes. In conclusion, based on the information provided by the review, the most economically feasible production strategies are identified both in the short and long term.
Keywords: coal, carbon dots, graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, synthesis methods
- Anton R. El Zanin – 2nd year graduate student, Engineer, Spectral Analysis Methods Laboratory, Department of Forensic Examination and Physical Materials Science, Volgograd State University
- Sergey V. Boroznin – Dr. Sc., Docent, Head of the Department of Forensic Examination and Physical Materials Science, Volgograd State University
- Natalia P. Boroznina – Dr. Sc., Professor, Department of Forensic Examination and Physical Materials Science, Deputy Director of the Institute of Priority Technologies and External Relations, Volgograd State University
- Irina V. Zaporotskova – Dr. Sc., Professor, Director of the Institute of Priority Technologies, Volgograd State University
For citation:
El Zanin A.R., Boroznin S.V., Boroznina N.P., Zaporotskova I.V. O perspektivakh promyshlennogo proizvodstva uglerodnykh nanomaterialov iz uglya [About the prospects of the industrial production of the carbon nanomaterials from coal], Fiziko-khimicheskie aspekty izucheniya klasterov, nanostruktur i nanomaterialov [Physical and chemical aspects of the study of clusters, nanostructures and nanomaterials], 2025, issue 17, pp. 779-794. DOI: 10.26456/pcascnn/2025.17.779. ⎘
Full article (in Russian): download PDF file
References:
1. Minenergo: dolya ubytochnykh predpriyatij ugol'noj otrasli RF za 5 mesyatsev vyrosla do 62%. TASS [Ministry of Energy: the share of unprofitable companies in the coal industry of the Russian Federation increased to 62% in 5 months. TASS]. Available at: https://tass.ru/ekonomika/24397815 (accessed: 14.07.2025). (In Russian).
2. Kolichestvo ubytochnykh krupnykh i srednikh predpriyatij i organizatsij c 2017 g. Edinaya mezhvedomstvennaya informatsionno-statisticheskaya sistema (EMISS) [Number of unprofitable large and medium-sized companies and organizations since 2017. Unified interdepartmental information and statistical system]. Available: https://www.fedstat.ru/indicator/58028 (accessed: 07.09.2025). (In Russian).
3. Minenergo ozhidaet konsolidatsii ugol'noj otrasli RF. TASS. [Ministry of Energy is waiting for a consolidation of coal industry companies in the Russian Federation. TASS]. Available at: https://tass.ru/ekonomika/24387223 (accessed: 14.07.2025). (In Russian).
4. Plakitkina L. S., Plakitkin Yu. A. Sovremennye trendy i prognoz razvitiya ugol'noj promyshlennosti mira i Rossii v usloviyakh transformatsii mirovoj ekonomiki. Chast' II. Ugrozy i vyzovy rossijskoj i mirovoj dobyche uglya, dolgosrochnye prognozy (do 2060 g.) ee razvitiya s ispol'zovaniem nejronnykh setej [Current trends and a forecast of coal industry development in Russia and worldwide in conditions of the world economy transformation. Part II. Threats and challenges to russian and global coal mining, long-term forecasts (up to 2060) of its development using neural networks]. Ugol’ [Coal], 2024, vol. 1183, no. 8, pp. 130-139. DOI: 10.18796/0041-5790-2024-8-130-139. (In Russian).
5. Shaker L. M., Abdulamie A. A., Al-Amiery A. A. Graphene-enabled advancements in solar cell technology. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2025, vol. 1020, art. № 179583, 20 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.179583.
6. Mokti M. H., Tajuddin H. A., Buraidah M. H. et al. Investigating a sulfonate-rich carbon dot as a sensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells, Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2025, vol. 57, issue 1, art. no. 94, 17 p. DOI: 10.1007/s11082-024-07988-y.
7. Kausar A. Breakthroughs of fullerene in optoelectronic devices - an overview, Hybrid Advances, 2024, vol. 6, art. no. 100233, 13 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.hybadv.2024.100233.
8. Zhang Z., Yang H., Zhang F. et al. Green and efficient electrolysis of seawater using carbon nanotube-based hybrid films, Nano Energy, 2024, vol. 123, art. no. 109356, 11 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2024.109356.
9. Modekwe H.U., Ayeleru O.O., Onu M.A. et al. The current market for carbon nanotube materials and products, Handbook of Carbon Nanotubes. Cham, Springer International Publishing, 2022, pp. 619-633. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-91346-5_73.
10. Karimova K. Nanotrubki budushchego: na chem zarabatyvaet pervyj russkij «edinorog» – RBK [Nanotubes of the future: what does the first Russian «unicorn» earn – RBC]. Available at: https://www.rbc.ru/quote/news/article/604b47fc9a79471cbc98a23e (accessed: 15.07.2025). (In Russian).
11. Punetha M., Bhagat J., Pathak R. et al. Industrial scale production, commercialization, and global market of functionalized carbon nanostructures, Handbook of Functionalized Carbon Nanostructures: From Synthesis Methods to Applications. Cham, Springer International Publishing, 2024, pp. 2743-2800. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32150-4_75.
12. Schmaltz T., Wormer L., Schmoch U., Döscher H. Graphene roadmap briefs (No. 3): meta-market analysis 2023. 2D Materials, 2024., vol. 11, issue. 2, art. no. 022002, 30 p. DOI: 10.1088/2053-1583/ad1e78.
13. Polushkin S.N., Oloncev V.F., Min'kova A.A. Issledovanie fiziko-khimicheskikh svojstv kamennogo uglya 2SS kak syr'ya dlya polucheniya grafenovykh kvantovykh tochek [The investigation of the physicochemical properties of the bituminous coal 2CC as a raw for the production of the graphene quantum dots], Master's Journal, 2016, no. 1, pp. 136-140. (In Russian).
14. Ye R., Xiang C., Lin J. et al. Coal as an abundant source of graphene quantum dots. Nature communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, art. no. 2943, 7 p. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3943.
15. Liu Q, Zhang J., He H. et al. Green preparation of high yield fluorescent graphene quantum dots from coal-tar-pitch by mild oxidation, Nanomaterials, 2018, vol. 8, issue 10, art. no. 844, 10 p. DOI: 10.3390/nano8100844.
16. Mishra S.R., Mandal T., Senapati R.N., Singh V. White-light emitting self-assembled graphene quantum dots from coal soot, Carbon Letters, 2025, vol. 35, issue 3, pp. 1067-1079. DOI: 10.1007/s42823-025-00860-3.
17. Das B., Kundu R., Chakravarty S. Preparation and characterization of graphene oxide from coal. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2022, vol. 290, art. no.126597, 6 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2022.126597.
18. Singh S.B., Dastgheib S.A. Characteristics of graphene oxide-like materials prepared from different deashed-devolatilized coal chars and comparison with graphite-based graphene oxide, with or without the ultrasonication treatment. Carbon, 2024, vol. 228, art. no. 119331, 12 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2024.119331.
19. Zhao K., Cao J., Qi Y. et al. Synthesis of multilayer graphene and its graphene derivatives from coal. Physica Scripta, 2024, vol. 99, issue 3, art. no. 035924, 14 p. DOI: 10.1088/1402-4896/ad2327.
20. Chong, J., Hu G., Xiao L. et al Mild alkaline-enhanced depolymerization of long-flame coal for the synthesis of coal-derived fluorescent carbon dots with application as probes, Fuel, 2024, vol. 369, art. no. 131795, 10 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2024.131795.
21. Bai J., Xiao N., Wang Y. et al. Coal tar pitch derived nitrogen-doped carbon dots with adjustable particle size for photocatalytic hydrogen generation, Carbon, 2021, vol. 174, pp. 750-756. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.10.088.
22. Zheng, Y., Ye S., Chang Q. et al. Tailoring the optical properties of coal pitch-derived carbon dots by graphitization controlling, Energy & Fuels, 2024, vol. 38, issue 15, pp. 14475-14482. DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c02129.
23. Bi, Y., Xing B., Zeng H. et al. Eco-friendly sustainable fluorescent coal-based carbon dots as a highly selective probe for Cu2+ detection, Fuel, 2024, vol. 378, art. no. 132933, 19 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2024.132933.
24. Sun J., Maimaiti H., Xu B. et al. Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of wastewater and simultaneous hydrogen production on copper nanorod-supported coal-based N-carbon dot composite nanocatalysts, Applied Surface Science, 2022, vol. 585, art. no. 152701, 12 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.152701.
25. Shi C., Wei X. Y. Microwave-assisted grafting of coal onto nitrogen-doped carbon dots with a high quantum yield and enhanced photoluminescence properties, Molecules, 2024, vol. 29, issue 6, art. no. 1349, 13 p. DOI: 10.3390/molecules29061349.
26. Li X., Chang Q., Xue C. et al. Coal pitch derived yellow‐emissive carbon dots and their application in luminescent solar concentrators, Particle & Particle Systems Characterization, 2023, vol. 40, issue 12, art. no. 2300155, 7 p. DOI: 10.1002/ppsc.202300155.
27. Cheng Z. F., Wu X. Y., Liu L. et al. A highly efficient, rapid, room temperature synthesis method for coal-based water-soluble fluorescent carbon dots and its use in Fe3+ ion detection, New Carbon Materials, 2023, vol. 38, issue 6, pp. 1104-1115. DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(23)60706-1.
28. Patrakov Yu.F., Fedorova N.I., Gladkova O.S. Mekhanokhimicheskie metody v uglepererabotke [Mechanochemical methods in the coal treatment], Gornyj informatsionno-analiticheskij byulleten' (nauchno-tekhnicheskij zhurnal) [Mining Information and Analytical Bulletin (scientific technical journal)], 2008, no. 12, pp. 96-101. (In Russian).
29. Korzun K.A., Kovalevskij A.A., Kotov D.A., Zaporozhchenko Yu.V., Gran'ko S.V. Sozdanie grafenopodobnogo materiala iz kamennykh uglej [Synthesis of the graphene-like material from bituminous coals], Molodezh' v nauke - 2018: Sbornik materialov Mezhdunarodnoj konferentsii molodykh uchenykh [Youth in science – 2018: Materials of the International conference of young scientists], Minsk, October, 29 – November, 01, 2018]. Minsk, Publishing House Belorussian Science, 2019, pp. 408-416. (In Russian).
30. Semenov E.E. Razrabotka metoda vydeleniya grafenopodobnykh struktur iz uglej vysokoj stepeni metamorfizma [Development of the method of extraction of the graphene-like structures from coals with high degree of metamorphism], MNSK-2022: Materialy 60-j Mezhdunarodnoj nauchnoj studencheskoj konferencii, Novosibirsk, 10–20 aprelja 2022 goda [Materialy 60-j Mezhdunarodnoj nauchnoj studencheskoj konferentsii], Novosibirsk, April, 10-20, 2022. Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk National State University, 2022, pp. 40-41. (In Russian).
31. Nosachev L. V. Sposob polucheniya uglerodnykh nanotrubok [Method for the production of the carbon nanotubes]. Patent RF, no. 2442747, 2012. (In Russian).
32. Nosachev L.V., Podlubnyj V.V., Hasanova N.L., Cybul'ko D.N., Shanygin A.N. Ustanovka dlya polucheniya uglerodnykh nanotrubok [Setup for the production of the carbon nanotubes]. Patent RF, 2446095, 2012. (In Russian).
33. Krätschmer W., Lamb L.D., Fostiropoulos K., Huffman D.R. Solid C60: a new form of carbon, Nature, 1990, vol. 347, no. 6291, pp. 354-358. DOI: 10.1038/347354a0.
34. Iijima S. Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon, Nature, 1991, vol. 354, no. 6348, pp. 56-58. DOI: 10.1038/354056a0.
35. Pang L.S.K., Vassallo A.M., Wilson M.A. Fullerenes from coal, Nature, 1991, vol. 352, no. 6335, p. 480. DOI: 10.1038/352480a0.
36. Pang L.S.K., Wilson M.A. Nanotubes from coal, Energy & Fuels, 1993, vol. 7, issue 3, pp. 436-437. DOI: 10.1021/ef00039a019.
37. Williams K.A., Tachibana M., Allen J.L. et al. Single-wall carbon nanotubes from coal, Chemical Physics Letters, 1999, vol. 310, issue 1-2, pp. 31-37. DOI: 10.1016/S0009-2614(99)00725-3.
38. Yermagambet B.T., Kazankapova M.K., Kasenov B.K., Aitmagambetova A.Z., Kuanyshbekov E.E. Synthesis of graphene-containing nanomaterials based on a carbon product using electric arc discharge, Solid Fuel Chemistry, 2021, vol. 55, issue 6, pp. 380-390. DOI: 10.3103/S0361521921060057.
39. Bujantuev S.L., Kondratenko A.S., Damdinov B.B. Sposob polucheniya uglerodnykh nanomaterialov s pomoshch'yu energii nizkotemperaturnoj plazmy i ustanovka dlya ego osushchestvleniya [Method for the production of the carbon nanomaterials with the use of energy of the low-temperature plasma and setup for its realization]. Patent RF, no. 2488984, 2013. (In Russian).
40. Lv X., Zhang Y., Wang Y. et al Formation of coal-based carbon nanotubes by Fe-K catalyst, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2022, vol. 161, art. no. 105400, 11 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2021.105400.
41. Wang Y., Zhang C., Tang M. et al. Preparation of N, S co-doped carbon nanotubes composites by coal pyrolysis for the CO2 capture, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2024, vol. 12, issue 6, art. no. 114452, 13 p. DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2024.114452.