CARBON IS THE NEW GOLD FLUOROGRAPHITE DERIVED MATERIALS FOR SUSTAINABLE CATALYSIS

The growing concern over the availability of critical raw materials, along with the urgent need to shift from a linear economy to a circular one, is pushing research and innovation towards sustainable solutions for chemical and energy production. Central to this epochal paradigm change is the development of new carbon-based materials that can efficiently catalyze industrial processes. Allowing the reduction or even complete elimination of the use of transition metals. This is crucial for decreasing reliance on scarce, costly metals and fostering environmentally friendly technologies. Among the most promising materials are graphene derivatives, known for their versatility, electrical conductivity, and ease of functionalization. However, commonly used materials such as graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide still present some substantial limitations (scarce reproducibility of materials properties, insufficient activity and selectivity. etc), which hinder their broader industrial use. To overcome these challenges, fluorographite chemistry represents a compelling alternative. This material can enable new synthesis strategies of carbon-based materials under milder reaction conditions, using safer, more economical reagents, while providing precise control over functionalization. The multifaceted materials derived from flurographite show strong potential for applications ranging from heterogeneous catalysis to electrochemical processes, offering a sustainable and effective replacement for noble metals in several industrial processes. The progress in developing carbon-based catalysts represents a significant step towards a more sustainable, metal-independent future for industry.