Effects of nonmetallic heteroatoms doping on the catalytic performance of carbon materials

•Influences of O, N, B, P and S on the electronic structure of carbon materials have been summarized and analyzed.•Applications of O, N, B, P and S doped carbon materials have been introduced.•Challenges, potential solutions and development opportunities of non-metallic heteroatoms doped carbon materials are discussed. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential applications of carbon-based non-metallic catalysts in various fields such as electrochemical energy storage, electrocatalysis, thermal catalysis, and photocatalysis, owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. Modifying carbon catalyst surfaces or incorporating non-metallic heteroatoms such as oxygen (O) nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), boron (B), and sulfur (S) into the carbon structure has emerged as a promising approach. This method enables the adjustment of the electronic structure of the carbon catalyst’s surface, leading to the formation of new active sites or the reduction of side reactions, ultimately enhancing the catalyst’s performance. Here we provide an extensive overview of the diverse forms of nonmetallic heteroatom doping in carbon catalysts, including oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. We examine their influence on the electronic structure of carbon catalysts and presents typical applications of doped nonmetallic heteroatom carbon catalysts in various catalytic processes. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges in the application of nonmetallic atomic catalysts and offer insights into potential future development opportunities for carbon catalysts.