Hydrothermal carbonization: a greener route towards the synthesis of advanced carbon materials

This review paper provides an overview of thehydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) technology, a“green” and versatile strategy for the synthesis ofadvanced carbon materials suitable for a wide varietyof applications of high impact in the current society.We will focus on the carbon formation mechanism,chemical and structural properties of hydrothermalcarbons, porosity development, nanostructuring,functionalisation and applications.