Abstract: Low-rank coals are highly regarded as valuable precursors for carbon materials because of their ample reserves, high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, substantial carbon content and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, challenges in precisely manipulating the structure and characteristics of carbon materials derived from low-rank coals stem from the differences in ash content, microstructure, and interfaces across various low-rank coal sources. Recent research has provided strategies for governing the microstructure and surface attributes of carbon materials derived from low-rank coals. This review provides an overview of strategies for the preparation of adsorption active carbon, capacitive carbon, hard carbon, graphite and nano-carbon materials from low-rank coals. It also examines the influence of coal type and processing techniques on the microstructure, interface properties and functional group in them. The applications of coal-derived carbon materials in adsorption, supercapacitors, and alkali metal batteries are explored, and potential avenues for future research and its challenges are considered.