Carbon nanomaterials for advanced lithium and sodium-ion batteries

Carbon forms have contributed substantially to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Soon after their discovery, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene have demonstrated to be versatile nanocarbons that find applications and potential developments in many fields. On the other hand, carbon is an inexpensive and abundant element that has been linked to the development of Li-ion batteries from the first commercial products, now more than 25 years ago. In alternative postlithium era batteries, carbon has also found a prominent place, and contributes to the continuously expanding research to find safer, sustainable, and economically viable energy storage systems. The aim of this chapter is to present an overview of different possibilities of the application of carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphene, and expanded graphite as well as disordered carbon nanomaterials in both Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. The most incipient and promising laboratory uses found in the literature are highlighted, to throw a thread, to follow research in this area.