Agriculture biomass-derived carbon materials for their application in sustainable energy storage

Abstract

Industrialization and increasing consumerism have driven up energy demand and fossil fuel consumption, significantly contributing to global climate change and environmental pollution. While renewable energy sources are sustainable, their intermittent nature necessitates the development of efficient energy storage devices to ensure uninterrupted power supply and optimal energy utilization. Electrochemical energy storage devices are promising for sustainable energy. Traditionally, carbon electrode materials for these devices come from non-renewable sources. However, using biomass and biomass–coal blends can help substitute fossil fuels, reducing environmental impact. Recent advancements in carbon materials have achieved specific surface areas of over 2500 m²/g, resulting in supercapacitor capacitances of 250–350 F/g and cycling stability exceeding 10,000 cycles with < 5% capacity loss. In lithium-ion batteries, biomass-based anodes deliver 400–600 mA h/g, outperforming graphite. Doped carbon materials enhance charge-transfer efficiency by 20–30%, while CO₂ emissions from production are reduced by 40–60%. With 50–70% lower costs than fossil-based alternatives, biomass-derived carbons present a viable pathway for scalable, eco-friendly energy storage solutions, accelerating the transition toward sustainable energy systems. Overall, this work highlights the influence of carbon materials on the electrochemical properties and hydrogen storage capacity of biomass-based carbon materials. This also underscores their potential application in energy storage.