One of the side effects of the global financial crisis was the leading of tremendous efforts toward a path much less damaging to the environment and society. Some of the policy initiatives derived thereof were portrayed as the drive for slowly moving towards a green economy, in which low-carbon energy systems must play a vital role.

The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions during energy generations is an issue attracting a great deal of attention from several viewpoints, and all major players in the energy scenario have undertaken substantial efforts to come up with breakthroughs in this exciting market (to name just a few examples, the “Climate Action” of the European Commission or the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy). While the ultimate target remains crystal clear, the available knowledge is rather fragmented and major gaps (theory, methods, and scaling-up to meet consumer demands) remain in the horizon of a green economy and low-carbon energy systems. Carbon materials have unique chemical, optical, electronic, and/or mechanical properties, which can be the cornerstone for the development of a wide range of applications including Low Carbon Energy Technologies with enhanced efficiency and relatively low cost.

This Research Topic aims to offer a wide, specialized perspective by presenting the reader a selection of recent original work in the field of carbon materials for their application in low carbon energy-related technologies. Papers suitable for publication in this Research Topic need to highlight the novel properties or applications of the carbon materials studied, or feature original synthetic works which are of significance and importance to scientists working in energy fields with a special emphasis on cost-effectiveness and minimization of the carbon footprint of the process. Papers covering interdisciplinary research areas are encouraged, in particular those addressing emerging and quickly developing energy related technologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Carbon materials as active materials for applications in energy-related devices (fuel cells, blue energy systems, batteries or photovoltaic devices);
• Biomass-derived carbon materials for electrochemical energy storages
• Energy storage and harvesting in carbon materials (Hydrogen, flexible high performance supercapacitors; superior Lithium storage performance);
• Carbonaceous materials as a counter electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC);
• Carbon materials in in the clean energy economy;
• Carbon materials as catalyst or catalytic support for energy intensification devices;
• Carbon materials to alleviate the carbon footprint (CO2 capture, enhanced product selectivity);
• Energy and costs saving by using novel carbon materials in established processes;
• Carbon materials for future energy-focused nanotechnologies.

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.