Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Biomass-derived porous carbons (BDPCs) offer tunable pore structures, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, making them promising electrode materials for energy storage systems. • A balanced distribution of micropores, mesopores, and macropores is critical for optimizing electrochemical performance in BDPCs. • The intrinsic components of biomass precursors (lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose) significantly influence pore formation during carbonization, enabling tailored pore structures. • Future research directions include establishing a biomass intrinsic structure database and employing machine learning-assisted pore structure engineering to design high-performance carbon materials.
Abstract
The development of sustainable electrode materials for energy storage systems has become very important and porous carbons derived from biomass have become an important candidate because of their tunable pore structure, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. Recent advances in controlling the pore structure of these carbons and its relationship between to is energy storage performance are discussed, emphasizing the critical role of a balanced distribution of micropores, mesopores and macropores in determining electrochemical behavior. Particular attention is given to how the intrinsic components of biomass precursors (lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose) influence pore formation during carbonization. Carbonization and activation strategies to precisely control the pore structure are introduced. Finally, key challenges in the industrial production of these carbons are outlined, and future research directions are proposed. These include the establishment of a database of biomass intrinsic structures and machine learning-assisted pore structure engineering, aimed at providing guidance for the design of high-performance carbon materials for next-generation energy storage devices.
1. Introduction
Innovative research and development of energy storage system (ESS) technologies are accelerating, aiming to address the challenge of matching supply and demand in the context of growing global energy demand. The chemical composition and structure of electrode materials directly determine the electrochemical performance of ESS. Carbon materials dominate commercial energy storage electrodes, thanks to their derived porous structure, excellent electrical conductivity and chemical stability[1]. However, conventional carbon materials (e.g., graphitized carbon, pitch-based activated carbon) are mostly derived from fossil fuels such as petroleum coke or coal tar, which are non-renewable resources, and their high-temperature processing is energy intensive and accompanied by the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide[2].
Biomass (e.g., wood residues, straw and nut shells) is a more desirable carbon precursor from a sustainability perspective. Typically, the main components of biomass are lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, which do not contain edible starch-based components, are non-food-competitive, and the carbonization process can be carbon negative (sequestering 2.8 tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases per ton of carbon)[3]. The annual conversion from billions of tons of biomass to porous carbon not only can avoid greenhouse gas emissions, but also obtain energy storage materials with adjustable pores and low cost, which becomes a key path to break the resource-environment conflict.
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XIE Bin, ZHAO Xin-ya, MA Zheng-dong, ZHANG Yi-jian, DONG Jia-rong, WANG Yan, BAI Qiu-hong, SHEN Ye-hua (2025). Modifying the pore structure of biomass-derived porous carbon for use in energy storage systems. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-5805(NCM2025-4-4)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are biomass-derived porous carbons (BDPCs) and why are they important for energy storage?
Biomass-derived porous carbons are carbon materials produced from biomass precursors like wood, straw, and nut shells. They are important for energy storage because they offer tunable pore structures, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, making them promising electrode materials for batteries and supercapacitors.
How does the pore structure of BDPCs affect their electrochemical performance?
The pore structure, including the distribution of micropores, mesopores, and macropores, critically influences electrochemical behavior. Micropores enhance ion storage capacity, mesopores facilitate ion transport, and macropores act as ion reservoirs, so a balanced distribution is essential for high performance.
What role do biomass components play in pore formation?
The intrinsic components of biomass, such as lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, decompose differently during carbonization, leading to varied pore structures. Understanding these effects allows for tailored pore engineering.
What are the future research directions for BDPCs?
Future research includes establishing a comprehensive database of biomass intrinsic structures and employing machine learning-assisted pore structure engineering to design high-performance carbon materials for next-generation energy storage devices.
What are the key challenges in industrial production of BDPCs?
Key challenges include scaling up production while maintaining consistent quality, controlling pore structure precisely, and reducing costs. The paper outlines these challenges and proposes future directions to address them.
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