Functional Carbon from Nature: Biomass‐Derived Carbon Materials and the Recent Progress of Their Applications

Abstract

Biomass is considered as a promising source to fabricate functional carbon materials for its sustainability, low cost, and high carbon content. Biomass-derived-carbon materials (BCMs) have been a thriving research field. Novel structures, diverse synthesis methods, and versatile applications of BCMs have been reported. However, there has been no recent review of the numerous studies of different aspects of BCMs-related research. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive review that summarizes the progress of BCMs related research. Herein, typical types of biomass used to prepare BCMs are introduced. Variable structures of BCMs are summarized as the performance and properties of BCMs are closely related to their structures. Representative synthesis strategies, including both their merits and drawbacks are reviewed comprehensively. Moreover, the influence of synthetic conditions on the structure of as-prepared carbon products is discussed, providing important information for the rational design of the fabrication process of BCMs. Recent progress in versatile applications of BCMs based on their morphologies and physicochemical properties is reported. Finally, the remaining challenges of BCMs, are highlighted. Overall, this review provides a valuable overview of current knowledge and recent progress of BCMs, and it outlines directions for future research development of BCMs.

Pretreatment Process Before Heat Pyrolysis of Plant‐based Precursors Paving Way for Fabricating High‐Performance Hard Carbon for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

“…Not all plants contain these impurities, but the main contribution of carbon in them is nothing more than cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignin, [26a] as can be seen in Figure 2. Three components work together to affect the structure of carbon materials.…”

“…The cellulose decomposition temperature is 315 °C, and the hemicellulose is already decomposed at 220 °C. The lignin molecule consists of three types of benzene‐propane, and thus, the molecule is heavily cross‐linked, indicating high thermal stability [26a] . Based on the pyrolysis process of three major components, it is well‐known that PBHC has single chemical structure, which means that the limited defects and pores have an adverse effect on the capacity of the slope region.…”

Biomass-derived 2D carbon materials: structure, fabrication, and application in electrochemical sensors

“…59,60 Plant biomass can usually maintain the original structure and channels in plants after carbonization, the obtained BC materials have their own unique morphology as a consequence, which cannot be achieved by animal-based precursors in the thermal transition process. 61…”

Calcined Chitosan/Cellulous Aerogel Modified with Copper Oxide Nanoparticles as an Efficient Sorbent for the Optimized Removal of Formic Acid from Water

“…3 Polysaccharides, as a promising representative of biomasses, are considered promising carbon precursors due to their abundant resources and having desired elements (C, H, and O), which results in low preparation costs and nonsignificant pollutant emissions. 4 Polysaccharides have been used to fabricate porous carbons using direct pyrolysis. 5 One of the most promising porous carbon precursors is hydrogels.…”