Carbon material-based aerogels (CMBAs) have three-dimensional porous structure, high specific surface area, low density, high thermal stability, good electric conductivity, and abundant surface-active sites, and, therefore, have shown great application potential in energy storage, environmental remediation, electrochemical catalysis, biomedicine, analytical science, electronic devices, and others. In this work, we present recent progress on the fabrication, structural design, functional tailoring, and gas adsorption applications of CMBAs, which are prepared by precursor materials, such as polymer-derived carbon, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphene, graphene-like carbides, fullerenes, and carbon dots. To achieve this aim, first we introduce the fabrication methods of various aerogels, and, then, discuss the strategies for regulating the structures of CMBAs by adjusting the porosity and periodicity. In addition, the hybridization of CMBAs with other nanomaterials for enhanced properties and functions is demonstrated and discussed through presenting the synthesis processes of various CMBAs. After that, the adsorption performances and mechanisms of functional CMBAs towards CO₂, CO, H₂S, H₂, and organic gases are analyzed in detail. Finally, we provide our own viewpoints on the possible development directions and prospects of this promising research topic. We believe this work is valuable for readers to understand the synthesis methods and functional tailoring of CMBAs, and, meanwhile, to promote the applications of CMBAs in environmental analysis and safety monitoring of harmful gases.

Designing functional membranes through the collaboration of multi-dimensional nanomaterials is of particular interest in environmental and biomedical applications. Herein, we propose a facile and green synthetic strategy by collaborating with graphene oxide (GO), peptides, and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to synthesize functional hybrid membranes with favourable antibacterial effects. GO nanosheets are functionalized with self-assembled peptide nanofibers (PNFs) to form GO/PNFs nanohybrids, in which the PNFs not only improve the biocompatibility and dispersity of GO, but also provide more active sites for growing and anchoring AgNPs. As a result, multifunctional GO/PNFs/AgNP hybrid membranes with adjustable thickness and AgNP density are prepared via the solvent evaporation technique. The structural morphology of the as-prepared membranes is characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their properties are analyzed by spectral methods. The hybrid membranes are then subjected to antibacterial experiments and their excellent antibacterial performances are demonstrated.

As an essential trace element in the human body, fluoride is beneficial in appropriate amounts, but excessive intake can cause serious harm. Therefore, addressing the global water pollution caused by fluoride is an urgent issue. In this study, a functional composite membrane is successfully prepared using Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) as the raw material, cinnamaldehyde (CIN) as a functional modifier, and EP-bioinduced ZrO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) as the loading material via biomimetic mineralization technology. The experimental results demonstrate that the composite membrane removes fluoride ions (F⁻) with an efficiency of over 99.9% within the concentration range of 100–400 mg/L. This excellent F⁻ removal performance is attributed to the ability of the hydroxyl groups on the surface of ZrO₂ to exchange and bind with F⁻. The formed CIN/EP-ZrO₂ composite membrane also reveals significant antibacterial activity against E. coli. In addition, the adsorption rate for methylene blue at the concentration of 5–300 mg/L reaches 99.99%, which is due to the synergistic interaction of functional groups such as hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), and amino groups (-NH₂) in EP. The overall sustainability footprint (OSF) assessment exhibits that the CIN/EP-ZrO₂ composite membrane has comprehensive advantages, including a simple preparation process, low cost, high performance, and environmental friendliness. This study provides an innovative solution for the sustainable treatment of F⁻, bacteria, and dye pollution in water, showcasing significant potential for applications in environmental science.