Josep Albero and Hermenegildo Garcia

Active carbons have played a key role in heterogeneous catalysis as support of precious novel nanoparticles (NPs), such as palladium, platinum, and gold. Starting in the 1990s, novel allotropic forms of carbon displayed better-defined structure than active carbons. They are available widely in nature and can be supplied commercially. This has triggered an interest for comparing active carbons with carbon allotropes until finally controls have been shown that these carbons have intrinsic active sites. The chapter covers state of the art in the use of graphene either as carbon catalyst or as support of metal NPs. 

Keywords Heterogeneous catalysis, carbon catalyst, graphene, metal nanoparticles 

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