Engineering carbon quantum materials for next-generation energy and electronics

The escalating global energy and environment crises demand for effective and sustainable approach. Carbon-based quantum materials (CQMs), such as carbon nanodots, graphene quantum dots, and carbon quantum dots, present adjustable electronic structures, remarkable optical characteristics, and reduced toxicity in comparison to conventional quantum dots. The present review provides the evaluation in synthesis approaches, functionalization, and physicochemical properties of CQMs with a view to optimizing their application in energy conversion and harvesting devices. CQMs provide improved electrocatalysis and photocatalysis for sustainable energy processes, including carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen generation. They also provide efficient light absorption for solar energy harvesting and have potential for use in sensors and other next-generation optoelectronics and bioelectronics. Nevertheless, some major drawbacks like scalability, stability, and commercial integration persist, while newly developed hybrid designs and production techniques continue to offer hope. Hence, CQMs become very important fuels for such transitions toward a more sustainable technology future. This paper brings all these developments together, discovering research gaps and future prospects to take the role of CQMs forward in the economically viable and environmentally sound solutions.