Sustainable Biomass Activated Carbons as Electrodes for Battery and Supercapacitors—A Mini-Review

Abstract

: Some recent developments in the preparation of biomass carbon electrodes (CEs) using various biomass residues for application in energy storage devices, such as batteries and supercapacitors, are presented in this work. The application of biomass residues as the primary precursor for the production of CEs has been increasing over the last years due to it being a renewable source with comparably low processing cost, providing prerequisites for a process that is economically and technically sustainable. Electrochemical energy storage technology is key to the sustainable development of autonomous and wearable electronic devices. This article highlights the application of various types of biomass in the production of CEs by using different types of pyrolysis and experimental conditions and denotes some possible effects on their final characteristics. An overview is provided on the use of different biomass types for the synthesis of CEs with efficient electrochemical properties for batteries and supercapacitors. This review showed that, from different biomass residues, it is possible to obtain CEs with different electrochemical properties and that they can be successfully applied in high-performance batteries and supercapacitors. As the research and development of producing CEs still faces a gap by linking the type and composition of biomass residues with the carbon electrodes’ electrochemical performances in supercapacitor and battery applications, this work tries to diminish this gap. Physical and chemical characteristics of the CEs, such as porosity, chemical composition, and surface functionalities, are reflected in the electrochemical performances. It is expected that this review not only provides the reader with a good overview of using various biomass residues in the energy storage applications, but also highlights some goals and challenges remaining in the future research and development of this topic.

A Short Review on the Electrochemical Performance of Hierarchical and Nitrogen-Doped Activated Biocarbon-Based Electrodes for Supercapacitors

“…However, the scale-up of devices based on these materials is obstructed by the prevailing time-consuming and energy-wasting procedures. Because of this, it is preferable to use easily accessible, renewable, and sustainable materials such as biomass-derived carbon materials [ 8 ]. For instance, graphite is a widely used material for energy storage systems fabrication [ 2 ].…”

“…For instance, graphite is a widely used material for energy storage systems fabrication [ 2 ]. However, graphite-based devices have reached energy densities close to their theoretical limit, which cannot satisfy the increasing need for higher storage capability, such as electric vehicles and grid energy storage [ 2 , 8 ]. In this sense, to push forward alternative electrodes’ technology there is an imperative need for the design and development of next-generation energy storage devices with similar and/or better electrochemical performances than graphite-derived materials [ 2 , 8 ].…”

Innovative Advanced Materials for Energy Storage and Beyond: Synthesis, Characterisation and Applications

“…In Biorefinery, generally, the carbohydrate fraction of the lignocellulose is converted into higher-quality products, whereas the residual lignin and other materials are discarded/burned. However, the different components of any biomass contain different components such as nanocrystal cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin that can be converted into valuable materials, for example, as electrode materials in battery and supercapacitors [23]. In this Special Issue, dos Reis et al, in their detailed review article, have summarised the recent developments on the usage of different types of biomass as electrode materials in batteries and supercapacitors in energy storage application [23].…”

“…However, the different components of any biomass contain different components such as nanocrystal cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin that can be converted into valuable materials, for example, as electrode materials in battery and supercapacitors [23]. In this Special Issue, dos Reis et al, in their detailed review article, have summarised the recent developments on the usage of different types of biomass as electrode materials in batteries and supercapacitors in energy storage application [23]. Various pyrolysis and experimental conditions were described in detail for the production of biomass-derived carbon electrodes (CEs).…”

“…It was concluded in this study that the biomass-based carbon materials represent a "sustainable way" for the uprising energy storage industry. A different challenge that one faces during these carbon electrode (CE) syntheses was also summarised [23].…”