Recent advances in environmental applications of Semi-coke: Energy storage, adsorption and catalysis

Energy shortages, environmental pollution, and the need for clean, alternative energy sources have led to several areas of research. Semi-coke (SC) is a sustainable carbon-based material with controlled physical, chemical, and mechanical properties and has potential applications in these areas. In this review, the effects of SC properties on the activity of SC are discussed. The performance of SC can be improved by adjusting the raw materials, optimizing the preparation conditions, and adopting modified methods. Second, recent progress in SC in environmental applications, including energy storage, adsorption, and catalysis, is comprehensively outlined. Additionally, the application and mechanism of SC in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are discussed. Among these, ketogenic groups, oxygen-containing functional groups, and defects on the SC surface are the main factors in organic pollutant degradation. Finally, future research trends and challenges in SC development are highlighted.