A novel strategy combining electrospraying and one-step carbonization for the preparation of ultralight honeycomb-like multilayered carbon from biomass-derived lignin

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 179; pp. 68 - 79
• Main Authors: Cao, Meilian, Wang, Qingxiang, Cheng, Wanli, Huan, Siqi, Hu, Yi, Niu, Zhaoxuan, Han, Guangping, Cheng, Haitao, Wang, Ge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aqueous electrolytes; Biomass; Biomass-derived lignin; Capacitance; Carbon; Carbonization; electric potential difference; electrochemical capacitors; electrodes; Electrospraying; Functional materials; Graphitization; Honeycomb-like multilayered carbon; Lignin; macropores; microparticles; micropores; Microspheres; Microstructure; One-step carbonization; Polymethyl methacrylate; Pore size; porosity; Porous materials; renewable energy sources; Structural hierarchy; Supercapacitors; Supercapacitors; Electrospraying; One-step carbonization; Honeycomb-like multilayered carbon; Biomass-derived lignin
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.03.063
• ISSN: 0008-6223

Despite the great advantages of interconnected porous architectures of three-dimensional carbon as functional materials, apparent common drawbacks restricting their widespread applications are high cost and non-renewable of the carbon precursors and complicated activation procedures. In this study, biomass-derived honeycomb-like multilayered carbon (HMC) is synthesized by electrospraying and direct carbonization for the first time. Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is mixed with biomass-derived lignin, the only carbon source, to form lignin/PMMA microspheres and microbowls by electrospraying. One-step carbonization of prepared micromaterials to obtain ultralight HMC, and the microstructures and pore size of carbon materials are controllable by adjusting the applied voltage of electrospraying. The obtained HMC-13 by carbonization of lignin/PMMA microspheres possesses interconnected carbon skeleton, partially graphitized structure and hierarchical pore system composed of macropores, mesopores and micropores. Benefiting from the structural advantages, HMC-13 as electrode of supercapacitor delivers a high specific capacitance of 348 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in aqueous electrolytes. Additionally, the supercapacitor exhibits excellent cycling stability with only 4% capacitance loss after 10 000 cycles. Based on these encouraging results, environmental friendliness and facile synthesis strategy, the biomass-derived ultralight porous carbon material holds great promise for facilitating wasted biomass utilization and developing sustainable energy products. [Display omitted] •A strategy combining electrospraying and carbonization to get carbon was developed.•The synthesized ultralight carbon possessed honeycomb-like multilayered structure.•The obtained carbon had partially graphitized structure and hierarchical pore system.•The prepared carbon as electrode exhibited excellent electrochemical performance.