Abstract
Global warming has prompted a search for new materials that capture and sink carbon dioxide (CO2). Biochar is a derivative of biomass pyrolysis and a carbon sink mainly used to improve crop production. This work explores the underlying mechanism behind biochar’s electric conductivity using a wide range of feedstocks and its combination with a binder (gypsum). This gypsum–biochar composite exhibits decreased density and flexural moduli with increasing biochar content, particularly after 20% w/w. Gypsum–biochar drywall-like composite prototypes display increasing shielding efficiency mostly in the microwave range as a function of biochar content, differing from other conventional metal (copper) and synthetic carbon-based materials. This narrow range of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is attributed to natural alignment (isotropy) of the carbon ultrastructure (e.g., lignin) induced by heat and intrinsic interconnectivity in addition to traditional phenomena such as dissipation of surface currents and polarization in the electric field. These biomass-derived products could be used as sustainable lightweight materials in a future bio-based economy.
Highlights
With the increasing global climate change due to CO2 emissions, sustainable solutions involving materials with carbon-neutral or negative footprint urgently need to be developed and incorporated into mainstream manufacturing processes.[1]
A relatively simple electric circuit was built to demonstrate the electric conductivity. This electric circuit is regulated by a DC power supply of 5 V supporting a blue lightemitting diode (LED) bridged by a randomly picked biochar piece of a few centimeters in length
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of all samples shows a correlation between electric conductivity and mineral content
Summary
With the increasing global climate change due to CO2 emissions, sustainable solutions involving materials with carbon-neutral or negative footprint urgently need to be developed and incorporated into mainstream manufacturing processes.[1]. There is an increased shielding effect at frequencies above 4 GHz. There is an increased shielding effect at frequencies above 4 GHz This composite holds the potential to become the basis of a new generation of bio-based cost-effective construction materials such as bricks, interlocking bricks, or drywalls displaying negative carbon footprint using recycled organic material and eletromagnetic radiation shielding properties. It can be incorporated into mainstream manufacturing processes as new products
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