Water purification and environmental remediation applications of carbonaceous nanofiber-based materials

Toxic metals and organic pollutants have become serious environment issues because these contaminants can cause indelible damage to human health and aquatic organism. Various materials have shown great potential in removing conventional contaminants and purifying water. Among them, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been regarded as promising candidates in the purification of water environments, owing to their distinct physical/chemical properties, but the connection between properties of CNFs and their removal performance receives few attentions. In this systematic review, we summarize the recent processes in synthetic strategies of CNFs, and highlight their water environmental applications via multiple interactions (π-π interaction, electrostatic interaction, and surface complexation). Some challenges and future outlooks of CNFs materials are briefly discussed. The content presented here will provide a helpful reference value for promoting the development of CNF-based nanomaterials and comprehend the significance of purifying water environments and protecting nature from pollutants.