The use of chemometric tools for screening and optimization of variables in the preparation and application of carbon-based materials

Abstract The aim of this review paper is to give an overview of chemometric tools, covering the application of full factorial, fractional factorial and other first-order designs in the screening of variables involved on preparation and application of carbon-based materials. The screening designs are powerful tools in both processes, since they allow to investigate and to analyze the effects of several variables toward the selected response(s). Based on the most significant variables resulting from these designs, the second-order designs (central composite, Doehlert, Box–Behnken, etc.) can be used to optimize the performance by analyzing the Response Surface or applying mathematical functions (for instance, desirability function). This review focuses on optimization designs to study experimental processes involving carbon-based materials. Additionally, a relevant discussion is presented regarding the theory that underlies each of the design and optimization techniques, which can further contribute and facilitate the choice of the experimenter by one or another specific design and optimization method.