Abstract
Fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors are critical to meet the rising global demand for clean, sustainable energy. Biomass-derived activated carbon can be obtained with tailored properties to fulfil the extensive need for low-cost, high-performance, catalyst and electrode materials. To investigate the possibility of nanoporous nitrogen-doped carbon materials as catalysts in fuel cells and electrodes in lithium-ion batteries, biomass precursors were thermochemically activated with NaOH at 800 °C, nitrogen was introduced using dicyandiamide and doping was performed at 800 °C. The chemical composition, porous structure, texture and electrochemical properties of the obtained materials change depending on the biomass precursor used. It has been found that the most promising precursor of the obtained materials is wood char, both as an oxygen reduction catalyst in fuel cells, which shows better properties than the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst, and as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. However, catalysts based on black liquor and hybrid material have comparable properties with commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst and can be considered as a cheaper alternative.
Highlights
This research is devoted to the preparation and study of the properties of nanoporous carbon materials based on three types of precursors with different chemical composition and structure
Due to the splitting of the bonds of the wood components in the kraft-pulping process, black liquor generally consists of lignin and a small part of hemicelluloses dissolved in the aqueous solution of NaOH and sodium sulphide (Na2 S) [30]
In our case black liquor is an aqueous solution of lignin residues, hemicellulose, and inorganic chemicals used in the process of kraft-pulping (11.2% NaOH, 10.9% Na2 CO3 and 21.9% NaHCO3 )
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. In terms of energy storage and production, plant biomass takes second place in the world right after fossil- based raw materials and is considered a renewable and affordable alternative. The use of renewable resources for electricity production is still insufficient to meet the ever-growing energy demand. The importance and necessity of biomass-based energy sources have been emphasized in documents devoted to the world economy and energy forums. Renewable energy sources are essential for both portable electronics (mobile phones and laptops, etc.) and transportation
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