The increasing demand for energy storage systems shifted
attention to renewable and efficient resources. This study investigates
lignocellulosic biomass from various wood sources to identify the most
suitable candidates for developing eco-friendly and abundant advanced
materials for energy storage. The lignin was extracted from different types
of wood waste through the Lignin Conversion in Ionic Liquids (LICIL) process
(1), allowing for enhanced purity and tailorability of properties. These
diverse wood sources were evaluated for their suitability in producing hard
carbon through a controlled pyrolysis process, yielding a porous structure
and large surface area.
Lignin was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR),
while the characterization of hard carbon was conducted using Raman
Spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller
(BET) analysis, which confirmed the structural and surface properties of the
derived materials. Our results demonstrate that using the LICIL process,
lignin can be effectively extracted from wood waste with high purity, and
then can be efficiently converted into hard carbon suitable for diverse
sustainable applications.
This research emphasizes the potential of wood waste sources to create
advanced carbon materials, aiming to reduce reliance on critical raw
materials. Further optimization of processing conditions seeks to enhance
material properties, contributing to efforts for sustainable and
cost-effective energy storage technologies.