Temperature effect on the synthesis of lignin-derived carbons for electrochemical energy storage applications
Journal article, 2018

Herein, we present a detailed study by N2 sorption and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) of the carbonization and KOH activation of lignin for its application as active material for electrochemical energy storage. It has been observed that i) the carbonization of lignin above 700 °C leads to a hard carbon with a large amount of bulk (buried) fine structure microporosity and a good performance as Na-ion negative electrode, ii) when KOH activation is done after complete carbonization it is mainly increasing the accessibility of the initial bulk microporosity, leading to a carbon with good performance as symmetric supercapacitor in aqueous electrolyte and iii) when carbonization and KOH activation are done simultaneously, a distinct pore structure is generated with a large amount of mesopores, suitable for symmetric supercapacitor in organic electrolyte. By combining SAXS, which is sensitive to bulk as well as surface porosity, and N2 sorption which probes surface porosity, it has been possible to follow the intricate mechanism of microporosity development. Finally, it is believed that these results can be extrapolated to various biomass based precursors.

SAXS

Supercapacitors

Batteries

Carbon

Lignin

Author

Adriana Navarro Suárez

Chalmers, Physics, Condensed Matter Physics

CIC EnergiGUNE

Damien Saurel

CIC EnergiGUNE

Paula Sánchez-Fontecoba

University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

CIC EnergiGUNE

Elizabeth Castillo-Martínez

CIC EnergiGUNE

University of Cambridge

Javier Carretero-González

Instituto de Ciencia & Tecnologia de Polimeros

Teófilo Rojo

CIC EnergiGUNE

University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

Journal of Power Sources

0378-7753 (ISSN)

Vol. 397 296-306

Subject Categories

Inorganic Chemistry

Materials Chemistry

Other Chemistry Topics

DOI

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.07.023

More information

Latest update

12/10/2018