The conjugated dicarboxylate sodium naphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxylate (Na2NDC) was prepared by a low‐energy‐consumption reflux method, and its performance as a negative electrode for sodium‐ion batteries was evaluated in electrochemical cells. The structure of Na2NDC was solved for the first time (monoclinic P21/c) from powder XRD data and consists of π‐stacked naphthalene units separated by sodium–oxygen layers. Through an appropriate choice of binder and conducting carbon additive, Na2NDC exhibited a reversible two electron sodium insertion at approximately 0.4 V (vs. Na+/Na) with remarkably stable capacities of approximately 200 mAh g−1 at a rate of C/2 and good rate capability (≈133 mAh g−1 at 5 C). In parallel, the high thermal stability of the material was demonstrated by high‐temperature XRD: the framework remained intact to above 500 °C.

Carbonaceous materials derived from biomass lignin-based precursors are an attractive alternative to the hard carbon materials generally used in Na-ion batteries. In this work, we employed almond shells as biowaste precursors and investigated the impact of the annealing atmosphere (Ar, N 2 , or Ar/H 2) on the physicochemical and the electrochemical properties of the obtained carbonaceous materials. Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and scanning electron microscopy indicated a relationship between the porosity and the annealing atmosphere. Under a reductive atmosphere, the surface chemistry of the sample was modified, which had an impact on the electrochemical performance. The materials synthesized under Ar and N 2 atmospheres delivered specific charges of ca. 255 mAh • g −1 , which were sustained for more than 60 cycles, whereas the electrochemical performance of the carbonaceous material synthesized under a reductive atmosphere (Ar/H 2) was drastically diminished. Once the optimal synthesis conditions were determined, other lignin-derived biowaste materials, such as walnut shells and scrap wood, were also investigated. Despite having similar physicochemical properties, the carbonaceous material derived from scrap wood exhibited better electrochemical performance (specific charge of 270 mAh • g −1), confirming the impact of morphology on the electrochemical performance.

Sodium‐ion batteries are commanding increasing attention owing to their promising electrochemical performance and sustainability. Organic electrode materials (OEMs) complement such technologies as they can be sourced from biomass and recycling them is environmentally friendly. Organic anodes based on sodium carboxylates have exhibited immense potential, except the limitation of current synthesis methods concerning upscaling and energy costs. In this work, a rapid and energy efficient microwave‐assisted synthesis for organic anodes is presented using sodium naphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxylate as a model compound. Optimizing the synthesis and electrode composition enables the compound to deliver a reversible initial capacity of ≈250 mAh g–1 at a current density of 25 mA g–1 with a high initial Coulombic efficiency (≈78%). The capacity is stable over 400 cycles and the compound also exhibits good rate performance. The successful demonstration of this rapid synthesis may facilitate the transition to preparing organic battery materials by scalable, efficient methods.

In an attempt to improve the physical properties of 3D printed poly lactic acid (PLA), this study aims to develop a microcrystalline cellulose fiber and observe the effects of fiber loading on the PLA/cellulose composites to the composition, crystallinity, morphology, and tensile properties of the resulting 3D printed material. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) have been extracted from indigenous raw abaca fibers and used as the fiber reinforcement for the PLA matrix. Composites of 1 and 3 wt% MCC fibers with PLA were processed using the twin-screw extruder to produce filaments. The resulting composite filaments were 3D printed utilizing the fused deposition modeling technology. FTIR, XRD, digital microscopy, and mechanical testing were used in characterizing the various 3D printed PLA/MCC composite. With the incorporation of cellulose, the PLA/MCC had up to 32% increase in tensile strength and 43% increase in modulus at just 3 wt% fiber loading due to the inherent high modulus of abaca cellulose. The MCC significantly influences the chemical, structural and mechanical properties of the 3D printed PLA/MCC composites.