Electrospun Lignin-Based Carbon Nanofibers as Supercapacitor Electrodes

Abstract

Lignin shows great potential for carbon-based functional materials and composite material electronics. However, high heterogeneity, poor thermal stability, and low molecular weight limit the practical application of lignin for fiber-shaped lignin-based materials, especially in the field of supercapacitors with high energy storage devices. Herein, a simple modification and fractionation strategy is designed to obtain lignin for the preparation of high-performance lignin-based carbon fibers (CFs). The modification and fractionation process effectively increases the molecular weight and reduces the heterogeneity of lignin. The introduction of lignin with large molecular weight and low heterogeneity is conducive to reduce the carbon weight loss of the precursor fibers, maintain the morphology of lignin-based CFs, and then significantly improve the specific surface area and energy storage properties. The specific surface area and energy storage density of the obtained lignin-based CFs reach 2042.86 m2/g and 442.2 F/g, respectively. This strategy provides a simple and effective method for the preparation of high-performance, low-cost, and green energy storage materials.

Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers from Biomass and Biomass Blends—Current Trends

“…(1) At 1000 • C in N 2 , heating rate of 4 K min −1 , 4 h (2) Lignin/PAN + KOH; 800 • C, heating rate of 4 K min −1 in N 2 , 1 h [119] During the thermal exposure, not only the dimension of nanofiber mats but also their color changes significantly. After electrospinning, the nanofibers have a matte white color, which changes with the increase of temperature from white to yellow, golden brown and at about 280 • C to dark brown.…”

Lignocellulosic Biomass-Derived Carbon Electrodes for Flexible Supercapacitors: An Overview

“…It has good spinnability, linear structure, high molecular weight, which contribute to good mechanical properties of the resulting fiber mats. Lignin/PAN-based CNFs [ 161 , 162 , 169 , 170 ] have been used as flexible supercapacitor electrodes since lignin is effective in increasing SSA, and lowering the average fiber diameter [ 161 ]. To further enhance the EC performance, metal compounds, including metal oxides (i.e., MnO 2 [ 191 ], NiCo 2 O 4 [ 163 ], zinc oxide (ZnO) [ 166 ]), metal sulfide [ 164 ], metal chloride (i.e., manganese chloride (MnCl 2 ) [ 165 ]) were employed as additives in lignin/PAN CNFs electrodes to offer pseudocapacitance.…”

State of the Art and New Directions on Electrospun Lignin/Cellulose Nanofibers for Supercapacitor Application: A Systematic Literature Review

“…H 3 PO 4 could effectively dehydrate lignin phenolic-OH group to form phospholipid bonds between lignin molecules, thereby increasing the spinnability of lignin [56]. Lignin nanofibers were also prepared by adding isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) to the spinning solution [57]. IPDI could link adjacent lignin molecules by establishing stable covalent bonds between them.…”

“…Due to the low molecular weight and entangled structure of lignin, it is difficult to produce fine nanofibers from lignin by electrospinning technique. To produce electrospun lignin nanofibers, lignin has to be blended with some additives that can modify the structural units of lignin [57,60,69]. Electrospun lignin-based nanofibers exhibit excellent mechanical stability due to the inherent durability of lignin.…”