Developing suitable energy storage systems which are clean, sustainable and efficient has become the primary focus for researchers around the world in the current search for sustainable energy materials to mitigate environmental concerns. In this perspective, lignin-derived carbon materials have already attained great attention as potential supercapacitor electrode materials, because lignin extracted from renewable resources, is low in cost, and generates high carbon yield. In the current study, we have used mechanically fibrillated cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) along with different types of lignin including kraft and soda lignin, for the preparation of the carbon aerogels. The lignin-CNF precursors were prepared using ice-templating followed by freeze drying, which were further carbonized at 1000 °C to obtain the carbon aerogels. The effects of lignin type and lignin to CNF weight ratios on the properties of the carbon aerogels, such as carbon yield, volume shrinkage, density and porosity, elemental compositions, surface area, microstructure and electrochemical properties, have been investigated. The carbon aerogels derived from kraft lignin had higher surface area compared to those derived from soda lignin with the highest value of 715 m2 g-1 for the one with 80:20 composition. Surprisingly, the best electrochemical performance has been achieved by the carbon aerogel with 60:40 composition from kraft lignin with a specific capacitance of 163.4 F g-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g-1, with a BET surface area of only 436 m2 g-1. A possible reason for the rather unusual observation could be the presence of hierarchical porous structure with more mesopores in the materials. The later benefits electrochemical performance, while providing a large but primarily inaccessible microspores for electrolyte ions and further enhances to the electrochemical properties.

Bio-based carbon aerogels with anisotropic porous structure prepared from lignin and nanocellulose for high-performance supercapacitors

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.