Advances in Micro-/Mesopore Regulation Methods for Plant-Derived Carbon Materials

Abstract

In recent years, renewable and clean energy has become increasingly important due to energy shortage and environmental pollution. Selecting plants as the carbon precursors to replace costly non-renewable energy sources causing severe pollution is a good choice. In addition, owing to their diverse microstructure and the rich chemical composition, plant-based carbon materials are widely used in many fields. However, some of the plant-based carbon materials have the disadvantage of possessing a large percentage of macroporosity, limiting their functionality. In this paper, we first introduce two characteristics of plant-derived carbon materials: diverse microstructure and rich chemical composition. Then, we propose improvement measures to cope with a high proportion of macropores of plant-derived carbon materials. Emphatically, size regulation methods are summarized for micropores (KOH activation, foam activation, physical activation, freezing treatment, and fungal treatment) and mesopores (H3PO4 activation, enzymolysis, molten salt activation, and template method). Their advantages and disadvantages are also compared and analyzed. Finally, the paper makes suggestions on the pore structure improvement of plant-derived carbon materials.

Intelligent micro/nanorobots based on biotemplates

“…31,80 More importantly, different structures of natural biotemplates give various intelligent applications to micro/nanorobots. 81 For example, large internal cavity pollen grains are ideal for drug or nanoparticle encapsulation, 82 calcified porous microneedles were used for cell-microdrilling, 39 hollow kapok fiber provides unbalanced force conditions in the motion, 83 and helical structures can convert rotational motion to translational motion. 84 Therefore, through appropriate design and assembly, environmentally friendly, cheap, readily available biotemplates and specific functional chemical components can be used in complex and diverse intelligent applications, such as removal of organic pollutants, biosensors, and cancer treatment.…”

Biomass‐Derived Carbon Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage

“…However, commercial graphene and CNT are quite expensive due to its complicated preparation process, and usually applied as additive in the electrode materials. Biomass‐derived carbon materials with the merits of the abundant eco‐friendly precursors, facial preparation, and adjustable physical/chemical properties attract considerable attention [2] . It has been demonstrated in the past decades that rational utilization of biomass is of great significance to environmental improvement and energy sustainable development [3] …”

“…Biomass-derived carbon materials with the merits of the abundant eco-friendly precursors, facial preparation, and adjustable physical/chemical properties attract considerable attention. [2] It has been demonstrated in the past decades that rational utilization of biomass is of great significance to environmental improvement and energy sustainable development. [3] Natural plants wastes such as fruit-peel, [4] pinecone, [5] reed straw, [6] palm shells, [7] onion, [8] sorghum [9] and those from animals such as bones [10] and furs [11] have been used as precursors for the preparation of carbon materials at high temperature.…”

“…For example, Liu et al summarized the regulation methods for pore-size of plantderived carbon materials, such as micropores (KOH/foam/ physical activation, freezing and fungal treatment) and mesopores (H 3 PO 4 activation, molten salt activation and template method). [2] Niu et al focused on the design and preparation of carbon materials derived from animals' byproduct and their applications in electrochemical energy storage. [17] However, the effect of light-weight heteroatoms doping on the electrochemical performance of the biomass-derived carbons in the applications, such as LIBs, SIBs, PIBs, and SCs, has rarely been systematically summaried.…”

“…For example, Liu et al. summarized the regulation methods for pore‐size of plant‐derived carbon materials, such as micropores (KOH/foam/physical activation, freezing and fungal treatment) and mesopores (H 3 PO 4 activation, molten salt activation and template method) [2] . Niu et al.…”