Sustainable anode materials from Cenchrus fungigraminus biomass for advanced lithium-ion batteries

Biomass-derived materials have garnered significant attention as sustainable anode candidates for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their abundance, low cost, and environmental benefits. Among these, Cenchrus fungigraminus (JUJUNCAO) stands out due to its rapid growth, high yield, and exceptional environmental adaptability, making it a promising precursor for carbon-based electrodes. In this study, activated carbon was synthesized from JUJUNCAO through a two-step process involving carbonization and KOH activation. By systematically varying the activation temperature and the biochar/KOH weight ratio, we precisely controlled key properties such as the degree of graphitization, porosity, chemical composition, and electrochemical performance. The optimized activated carbon exhibited a high specific surface area of 1055 m² g⁻¹ and delivered a reversible specific capacity of 393 mAh g⁻¹ after 650 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g⁻¹. This superior electrochemical performance is attributed to the hierarchical porous structure and heteroatom doping, which synergistically enhance lithium-ion diffusion and electron transport. These findings not only underscore the potential of JUJUNCAO as a sustainable, high-performance anode material for LIBs but also pave the way for the high-value utilization of biomass in green energy storage technologies.