Pablo Doménech, Dimitra Iltsiou, Mateusz Zbigniew Zalewski, Betsy Kurisingal Joseph, Alex Toftgaard Nielsen, Søren Kegnæs and Anders Riisager
{"title":"Production of sustainable aviation fuel intermediates by Pd/C catalysed alkylation of combinations of fermentation-derived oxygenates","authors":"Pablo Doménech, Dimitra Iltsiou, Mateusz Zbigniew Zalewski, Betsy Kurisingal Joseph, Alex Toftgaard Nielsen, Søren Kegnæs and Anders Riisager","doi":"10.1039/D5SE01270H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SE01270H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, consisting of linear and branched alkanes along with cyclic and aromatic compounds. In this study, an optimised catalytic system formed by Pd/C and the base K<small><sub>3</sub></small>PO<small><sub>4</sub></small> was examined for the alkylation of different combinations of ketones (acetone and butanone) and alcohols (ethanol, 1-butanol, and isopropanol), all obtainable through fermentation of renewable carbon sources. Conversion of the reactants towards desired longer-chained ketone products serving as intermediates for SAF was consistently above 90% for all combinations involving primary alcohols at higher temperatures, with selectivities towards the desired products as high as 80%. Acetone primarily provided intermediates for linear alkanes, whereas butanone was found to be a promising ketone for alkylation, providing intermediates for long branched alkanes after dialkylation on both the methyl and the less reactive ethyl side chain. In perspective, the catalytic system seems promising for making blends of SAF substrates with high selectivity from fermentation-derived oxygenate mixtures.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 8","pages":" 2101-2109"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147727294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Selective oxidation of polyolefins to carbon monoxide by photo-assisted catalysts","authors":"Hiroki Nagai, Hiroaki Kaneko, Yohei Cho, Akira Yamaguchi and Masahiro Miyauchi","doi":"10.1039/D6SE00038J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SE00038J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Polyolefins are produced in vast quantities, yet their degradation and recycling remain challenging due to their inherent chemical inertness. One of the conventional recycling approaches is the gasification process, which generates hydrogen (H<small><sub>2</sub></small>) and/or carbon monoxide (CO) from plastic waste by high temperature treatment. However, its large energy consumption and poor product gas selectivity hinder practical applications. This study uses photon energy to promote the gasification of polyolefins through bandgap-driven and/or photothermal processes. We investigated the difference in CO production selectivity and underlying reaction mechanisms using rhodium-loaded strontium titanate (Rh/SrTiO<small><sub>3</sub></small>) and rhodium-loaded mesoporous silica (Rh/MCM-41) as photo-assisted catalysts under ultraviolet light irradiation. The Rh/SrTiO<small><sub>3</sub></small> is capable of bandgap excitation in addition to the photothermal effect, while the Rh/MCM-41 only causes the photothermal effect because of the ultra-widegap nature of silica. Activity results of <em>n</em>-octane revealed that Rh/MCM-41 exhibited markedly higher CO production selectivity than Rh/SrTiO<small><sub>3</sub></small>. Liquid-phase analysis of <em>n</em>-octane on intermediate species indicates that the high selectivity originates from the milder oxidation power provided by Rh/MCM-41. These findings demonstrate that photothermal effects possess inherently higher selectivity toward polyolefin gasification into CO compared to a reaction by bandgap excitation, owing to the mild oxidation process in the photothermal Rh/MCM-41 system. Overall, the present results offer valuable insights for designing selective and energy-efficient strategies for polyolefin gasification utilizing photon energy.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 8","pages":" 2021-2027"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/se/d6se00038j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147727289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qirong Li, Yifei Chen, Yongchang Zhu, Shidan Yuan, Xiaogang Song, HaiXiang Wang and Tao Tang
{"title":"Research progress and application of non-noble transition metal-based electrocatalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction by water splitting","authors":"Qirong Li, Yifei Chen, Yongchang Zhu, Shidan Yuan, Xiaogang Song, HaiXiang Wang and Tao Tang","doi":"10.1039/D6SE00111D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SE00111D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >As environmental pressures arising from continued fossil fuel consumption intensify, hydrogen has emerged as a clean, sustainable, and high-energy-density carrier for future energy systems. Among the available hydrogen production technologies, room-temperature water electrolysis is regarded as one of the most promising pathways. The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) constitutes the central half-reaction in water electrolysis; however, the reliance on scarce and expensive noble-metal catalysts severely limits large-scale deployment. Consequently, the development of highly active, durable, and cost-effective non-precious metal electrocatalysts has become a critical research focus. This review systematically summarises recent advances in non-precious-metal-based HER catalysts, encompassing transition-metal sulphides, phosphides, oxides, selenides, nitrides, carbides, and borides. Emphasis is placed on performance-enhancement strategies, including chemical doping, morphology engineering, heterostructure construction, and defect modulation, and their underlying mechanistic roles. By precisely tailoring electronic structures, active-site densities, and adsorption energetics of reaction intermediates, a wide range of non-precious metal catalysts have demonstrated outstanding HER activity in acidic, alkaline, and neutral electrolytes. Notably, under optimised conditions, some catalysts exhibit overpotentials, Tafel slopes, and long-term stability comparable to or even surpassing those of noble-metal benchmarks. Finally, this review summarises key performance evaluation metrics for HER electrocatalysts and discusses future research directions and industrial application prospects for non-precious transition-metal-based systems, providing valuable guidance for the development of efficient and economically viable hydrogen production technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 7","pages":" 1635-1675"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kai Gao, Chenglong Shi, Yunlong Pei, Fangqing Liu, Jiarui Lin, Qingqing Zhang and Zhipeng Sun
{"title":"Polyanion-type cathode material KVPO4F for potassium-ion batteries: a review","authors":"Kai Gao, Chenglong Shi, Yunlong Pei, Fangqing Liu, Jiarui Lin, Qingqing Zhang and Zhipeng Sun","doi":"10.1039/D5SE01636C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SE01636C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >As a promising energy storage technology, potassium ion batteries (PIBs) have attracted significant research interest due to their cost-effectiveness and high operating voltage. Among various cathode materials for PIBs, polyanion-type compounds have been widely studied owing to their structural stability and favorable ionic conductivity. In particular, potassium vanadium phosphate fluoride (KVPO<small><sub>4</sub></small>F, KVPF) exhibits a robust three-dimensional framework structure and delivers a high discharge voltage. However, its practical application is hindered by intrinsic limitations such as low electronic conductivity, structural defects, and the tendency of high operating voltages to induce oxidative decomposition of the electrolyte, which collectively impair rate performance and cycling stability. This review provides a systematic overview of the development and classification of polyanion-type cathode materials for PIBs, with a focus on the structural features and inherent challenges of KVPF. It further discusses the influence of the crystal structure of KVPF on potassium storage mechanisms and ion diffusion pathways. To address these performance limitations, this paper comprehensively summarizes the improvement strategies and related progress in recent research. Finally, based on current research progress, this review offers critical insights and future perspectives for the development of KVPF cathode materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 9","pages":" 2169-2195"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hunter O. Ford, Jeffrey W. Long, Meghanne E. Tighe, Debra R. Rolison and Ryan H. DeBlock
{"title":"Chemically sodiated iron disulfide as a high-capacity charge-storage host with cation- and anion-sited redox","authors":"Hunter O. Ford, Jeffrey W. Long, Meghanne E. Tighe, Debra R. Rolison and Ryan H. DeBlock","doi":"10.1039/D5SE01337B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SE01337B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Alkali-rich iron disulfides (M<small><sub>2</sub></small>FeS<small><sub>2</sub></small>) are promising electrode materials for next-generation batteries owing to their high capacity and earth-abundant elemental composition. This work introduces a straightforward, low-temperature, and scalable chemical sodiation route to synthesize Na<small><sub>2</sub></small>FeS<small><sub>2</sub></small> by reacting FeS<small><sub>2</sub></small> with a sodium-benzophenone adduct. Chemically sodiated Na<small><sub>2</sub></small>FeS<small><sub>2</sub></small> has comparable charge-storage performance to materials produced using conventional high-temperature or electrochemical methods, exhibiting specific capacity >250 mAh g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (1.55 e<small><sup>−</sup></small> per formula unit). Spectroscopic analysis using X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) confirms the participation of both iron and sulfur redox during battery operation, demonstrating the contribution of anion redox to the high capacity of Na<small><sub>2</sub></small>FeS<small><sub>2</sub></small> in nonaqueous electrolytes. Our results highlight the viability of chemical sodiation for the facile synthesis of Na<small><sub>2</sub></small>FeS<small><sub>2</sub></small>, enabling enhanced synthetic control and scalable production of this attractive battery material.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 7","pages":" 1676-1683"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Puranjan Mishra, Ruilong Zhang, Peixin Wang, Yiqi Geng, Dongyi Li, Qiuxiang Xu, Jonathan W. C. Wong and Jun Zhao
{"title":"Genome-resolved insights into Ni/Fe2O3 nanocatalyst-enhanced dark fermentative hydrogen production from food waste","authors":"Puranjan Mishra, Ruilong Zhang, Peixin Wang, Yiqi Geng, Dongyi Li, Qiuxiang Xu, Jonathan W. C. Wong and Jun Zhao","doi":"10.1039/D5SE01709B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SE01709B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Ni/Fe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small> nanocatalysts are effective in increasing the yield of fermentative biohydrogen (H<small><sub>2</sub></small>); however, the underlying microbial and metabolic mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. In this study, food waste (FW)-based dark fermentative (DF) H<small><sub>2</sub></small> production was significantly improved by the addition of a synthesized Ni/Fe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small> nanocatalyst, achieving an increase in H<small><sub>2</sub></small> yield up to 55.65% compared with that in the control. The presence of Ni/Fe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small> enhanced the pH stability, conductivity, and electron transport capacity of the system, thereby simultaneously accelerating the microbial metabolism in the DF system. Genome-centric metagenomic analysis revealed that the catalyst reshaped the microbial community and metabolic functions by promoting <em>Clostridium</em> species as the dominant H<small><sub>2</sub></small>-producing bacteria and enriching the genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism, complex saccharide hydrolysis, nutrient transport, glucose phosphorylation, and electron transfer pathways. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized catalytic role of Ni/Fe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small> in regulating the microbial community structure and metabolic pathways, providing genome-level insights into catalyst–microbe interactions and offering a mechanistic foundation for advancing food waste-derived H<small><sub>2</sub></small> production.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 9","pages":" 2209-2221"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/se/d5se01709b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147826998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yedluri Anil Kumar, Vijayalaxmi Mishra, Tholkappiyan Ramachandran, Ahmed M. Fouda, H. H. Hegazy, Ezhakudiyan Ravindran, Arjun Maity and Seong-cheol Kim
{"title":"Hybrid sodium-/zinc-ion battery systems: emerging approaches for low-cost and safe energy storage","authors":"Yedluri Anil Kumar, Vijayalaxmi Mishra, Tholkappiyan Ramachandran, Ahmed M. Fouda, H. H. Hegazy, Ezhakudiyan Ravindran, Arjun Maity and Seong-cheol Kim","doi":"10.1039/D6SE00044D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SE00044D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hybrid sodium–zinc ion battery systems represent one of the next-generation energy storage technologies with potential for safely delivering affordable and sustainable performance. These hybrid batteries exploit the high natural abundance of sodium and the excellent electrochemical stability of zinc, enabling the advantages of sodium-ion and zinc-ion chemistries to be combined in a single device. A combination of the two types of charge storage enables sodium–zinc ion batteries to surpass certain limits of individual sodium-ion and zinc-ion batteries, in particular with regard to cycle life, material cost and even operational safety to some extent. The latest studies on hybrid sodium–zinc ion batteries have revolved around the implementation of new cell architectures, including not only new electrode materials but also dual-ion transport schemes, as a way of exploiting better overall electrochemical performance. Such design solutions have led to an increase in energy density, rate capability and cycling stability. The synergistic approaches to materials like Prussian blue analogue cathodes combined with sodium-rich electrolyte environments and zinc metal components have proved effective in reducing certain degradation pathways, including the growth of zinc dendrites and dissolution of the active material. The key aspect which makes the sodium–zinc battery so distinct in the present scenario compared to other batteries such as the lithium-ion battery and the individual sodium-ion or zinc-ion battery lies within its cost, lifespan, and inherent safety features. It has entered the limelight as one of the most preferred contenders for the storage of grid energy and renewable energy integration, along with being applied for the utilization of portable devices owing to its sustainability. Challenges persist at the interfaces of electrode and electrolyte optimization, long-term operational stability, and scalable manufacturing processes. This review summarizes recent progress and outlines the major research directions towards the advancement of hybrid sodium–zinc ion batteries as a reasonable alternative energy storage technology in the post-lithium era.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 10","pages":" 2383-2414"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147967852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mahendra Tiwari, Meheretu Jaleta Dirbeba, Alessandro Ruozzi, Juho Lehmusto, Patrik Yrjas and Ravikrishnan Vinu
{"title":"Co-pyrolysis of rice straw and empty fruit bunch: effects of blending on product yields and bio-oil composition","authors":"Mahendra Tiwari, Meheretu Jaleta Dirbeba, Alessandro Ruozzi, Juho Lehmusto, Patrik Yrjas and Ravikrishnan Vinu","doi":"10.1039/D5SE01603G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SE01603G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Co-processing of agricultural residues is a promising route for producing renewable fuels and chemicals, particularly when feedstock availability is seasonal and material properties vary significantly. In this study, co-pyrolysis of rice straw (RS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) was investigated using three reactor systems: analytical Py-GC/MS, a single-particle reactor (SPR), and a fluidized-bed reactor (FBR). The two biomasses differ substantially in chemical composition, strongly influencing their pyrolysis behavior. Pyrolysis experiments were conducted at 500 °C for the individual samples and for three blends containing 25%, 50%, and 75% RS (dry weight basis), with the remainder consisting of EFB. RS produced lower bio-oil and higher biochar yields than EFB, primarily due to its higher ash content, particularly alkali and alkaline-earth metals. Higher apparent condensable yields were obtained in the SPR than in the FBR, since the condensable yields in the SPR were estimated by difference. Nonetheless, similar non-condensable gas yields, mainly CO and CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>, were produced in both reactors. Py-GC/MS analyses showed that the condensable pyrolysis vapors primarily consisted of linear and cyclic oxygenates and phenolic compounds. GC-MS analyses of the bio-oils produced in the FBR revealed a similar composition. RS-derived pyrolysis vapors/bio-oils contained a higher proportion of oxygenates, while the phenolic compounds were more prominent in the EFB vapors/bio-oils. The co-pyrolysis yields closely followed the mixture rule, indicating largely independent decomposition behavior of the RS and EFB in the blend. The results of this study suggest that co-pyrolysis of biomass residues with varying availability and chemical compositions may enhance certain aspects of the fast pyrolysis process and support its overall sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 8","pages":" 1959-1972"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/se/d5se01603g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147727281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arun Barathi, Debajyoti Kundu, Kumari Pooja, Madhava Surya, Samuel Jacob, Palas Samanta, Vineet Kumar and Arindam Kuila
{"title":"Toward sustainable industry: integrating industrial symbiosis, biorefineries, and circular economy for SDG alignment","authors":"Arun Barathi, Debajyoti Kundu, Kumari Pooja, Madhava Surya, Samuel Jacob, Palas Samanta, Vineet Kumar and Arindam Kuila","doi":"10.1039/D6SE00037A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SE00037A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The global transition toward sustainability requires connected and system wide approaches that go beyond traditional industry boundaries. This review explores how industrial symbiosis, biorefineries, circular economy, and sustainability frameworks are linked and probable ways these could together support the shift to cleaner and low carbon industrial systems. Industrial symbiosis allows industries to share resources like energy and materials, which helps reduce waste and encourages cooperation. Biorefineries turn biomass and organic waste into valuable products, and the circular economy focuses on designing systems that reduce waste by keeping products and materials in use for longer. When combined, these frameworks could create strong synergies that support environmental protection, economic development, and social well-being, while also helping to achieve global goals like clean energy, climate action, and sustainable production. This review also explores new tools and approaches such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, nature-based solutions, and regenerative design that help bring these systems together more effectively. Even with these promising developments, there are still challenges, such as the lack of models that work across different industries, their scales, limited attention to fairness and equity, and a need for more practical examples in developing countries. To address these, a roadmap is proposed that includes shared digital platforms, living labs, and collaboration across different fields. This paper offers a clear framework to support decision makers in policy, research, and industry in building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable industrial systems for the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 8","pages":" 1816-1844"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/se/d6se00037a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147727276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Thermally controlled dual stabilization mechanisms of modified kenaf-derived lignin-based aqueous binders for silicon electrodes used in lithium-ion batteries","authors":"Tatsuki Hozumi, Reiichi Chiba, Masanori Ikeda, Daisuke Tashima, Yusuke Abe, Seiji Kumagai and Takuya Egcuhi","doi":"10.1039/D6SE00053C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D6SE00053C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Silicon (Si) is a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its high lithium storage capacity; however, severe volume expansion during charge–discharge cycling causes electrode degradation and rapid capacity fading. While binders are essential for maintaining electrode integrity, high-performance binders are often costly, complex to process, and dependent on organic solvents. Aqueous binders derived from natural polymers therefore represent attractive alternatives in terms of cost, sustainability, and environmental compatibility. Although chemically modified lignin binders are promising for Si electrodes, previous studies have only suggested the existence of two distinct thermal treatment approaches—low- and high-temperature processing—and no study has systematically compared these two methods. Herein, we report a modified kenaf-derived lignin copolymerized with polyacrylamide (KL-PAM) as an aqueous binder for Si electrodes and systematically investigate the effect of thermal treatment temperature on its stabilization mechanisms. Low-temperature-treated KL-PAM electrodes at 200 °C accommodated Si volume expansion through binder flexibility and adhesion, whereas high-temperature-treated electrodes were stabilized by carbonization-induced hardening of KL-PAM, which also enhanced electronic conductivity. As a result, high-temperature-treated electrodes at 600 °C exhibited superior rate capability, while capacity retention was comparable between the two regimes. Intermediate-temperature treatment was ineffective, leading to binder failure. This study clarifies thermally controlled dual stabilization mechanisms of lignin-based binders and provides guidance for the development of sustainable binders for Si electrodes in lithium-ion batteries.</p>","PeriodicalId":104,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Energy & Fuels","volume":" 8","pages":" 1997-2004"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/se/d6se00053c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147727284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}