A solid high in content of the element carbon and structurally in a non-graphitic state.
Note:
The use of the term carbon as a short term for a material consisting of non-graphitic carbon is incorrect. The use of the term carbon without a second noun or a clarifying adjective
should be restricted to the chemical element carbon. The term carbon can be used in combination with other nouns or clarifying
adjectives for special types of carbon materials (carbon electrode, carbon fibres, pyrolytic carbon,
glass-like carbon and others).
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 473
(Recommended terminology for the description of carbon as a solid (IUPAC Recommendations
1995))
on page 482