Carbon, a unique model material for condensed matter physics and engineering science

Abstract

Although poorly known by the general public, carbon materials are everywhere in our life, and are present in multiple applications. But many more devices and systems might be based on carbon, considering the number of forms this element may take. In the present work, focus is given to black forms of carbon, and many structures are presented. Such different architectures, associated with different anisotropies and transport properties, may lead to materials presenting an outstanding number of distinct features. So broad range of characteristics is possible through the number of textures carbon may take. As far as the authors know, no other element can generate so many different materials.