Unlocking the response of lignin structure for improved carbon fiber production and mechanical strength

Zhang, Ran; Du, Qing; Wang, Lei; Zheng, Ze; Guo, Li; Zhang, Xiaoyu; Yu, Hongbo

doi:10.1039/c9gc01632e

Cited by 61 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Likewise, the chemical features of polymer precursors in biomass feedstocks are likely to define the properties of resultant materials. This fundamental structure-property relationship between lignin chemical characteristics and carbon fiber properties was also evidenced by previous studies of manufacturing processes, where molecular weight, uniformity, linkage profile, and functional group all can potentially impact on carbon fiber properties ( Beaucamp et al., 2019 ; Culebras et al., 2018b ; Li et al., 2017a , 2017b , 2018a , 2019b ; Zhang et al., 2019 ). Despite the manufacturing process studies, it is still not clear if these chemical features can be achieved through feedstock improvement and how these chemical features are different in different feedstock cultivars, engineered lines, and growth conditions.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Discovering Biomass Structural Determinants Defining the Properties of Plant-Derived Renewable Carbon Fiber

et al. 2020

iScience

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Summary Traditional lignocellulosic feedstock research has focused on biomass characteristics essential for improving saccharification efficiency, yet the key biomass features underlying high-quality renewable lignin materials remain unknown. Nevertheless, modern biorefinery cannot achieve sustainability and cost-effectiveness unless the lignin stream can be valorized. We hereby addressed these scientific gaps by investigating biomass characteristics defining lignin-based carbon materials properties. Lignin from eight sorghum samples with diverse characteristics was fabricated into carbon fibers (CFs). Remarkably, only lignin uniformity was found to define CF mechanical performance, highlighting the new structure-property relationship. Contrarily, lignin content and composition did not impact on carbon material properties. Mechanistic study by XRD and Raman spectroscopy revealed that higher lignin uniformity enhanced CF microstructures, in particular, turbostratic carbon content. The study for the first time highlighted lignin uniformity as an important biomass structure determinant for renewable products, which opened up new avenues for feedstock design toward diverse products enabling sustainable and cost-effective bioeconomy.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Discovering Biomass Structural Determinants Defining the Properties of Plant-Derived Renewable Carbon Fiber

et al. 2020

iScience

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“…The compressive properties of the carbon foam increased and then decreased as lignin content increased, and the Lignin 10% sample exhibited the highest specific strength at 19.91 (10 2 m). As indicated in Reference, [ 24 ] the carbon materials derived from lignin has high mechanical properties. With an increasing amount of lignin, the compressive properties of the materials are also improved.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of lignin‐based carbon foam for use as an FRP sandwich core material

et al. 2020

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Sandwich‐structure materials consist of a high‐strength skin material and a lightweight core material. The advantages of sandwich structures are known to include excellent mechanical properties and low weight, the latter of which is the result of a lightweight core. However, soft‐core members such as plastic foam materials have low rigidity and therefore may not exhibit adequate functionality when used in sandwich structures. This research sought to reduce environmental impact and to facilitate sustainable development by developing a method for fabricating high‐strength carbon foam using alkali lignin for use as an FRP sandwich core and enhancing the mechanical properties of the carbon foam with short glass fiber. PMMA particles decomposed at high temperatures to leave gaps, creating carbon foam with a closed structure. The relationship between PMMA particle size and foam pore size was investigated by observing cross‐sections of the foam.

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“…G band is associated with Raman scattering of sp 2 carbon bonds, typically an indication of ordered graphite crystallite structures. [63,64] D band is commonly recognized as denotation of defects or disordered structure. [64] After aligning LBCFs, average D band position shifted from 1339 to 1344 cm À1 while G band position stayed almost constant at $1582 cm À1 (Figure 6B).…”

Section: Raman Spectroscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of high‐quality carbon fiber production from electrospun aligned lignin fibers

Chen

Ghosh

Tang

et al. 2022

Polymer Engineering & Sci

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In recent years, investigating lignin as an alternative carbon fiber precursor has received immense research attention as a way to reduce the cost and replace the unsustainable conventional petroleum-based precursors for carbon fiber production. The predominant challenge for lignin-based carbon fibers is its low mechanical performance compared to conventional ones. In this work, mechanical properties of electrospun lignin carbon fiber mats were shown to be considerably enhanced via alignment of the submicron fibers. Over 60% of the fibers were aligned via a rotating drum collector utilized during fiber production. The main electrospinning parameters, namely electric field, rotating speed, and flow rate were optimized with the Box-Behnken method to enhance mechanical properties with reduced fiber diameter and improved fiber alignment. The optimal electrospinning process parameter was achieved at 2000 rpm collection speed, 80 kV/m electric field, and 440 nl/s flow rate. The lignin carbon fibers produced under the optimized condition exhibited elastic modulus of 3145.47 ± 917.75 MPa, tensile strength of 18.78 ± 6.11 MPa, and average fiber diameter of 697.07 ± 96.41 nm. The analysis on the interactions between electrospinning parameters has laid a solid foundation for the production of high-quality carbon fibers from lignin precursor.

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Unlocking the response of lignin structure for improved carbon fiber production and mechanical strength

Abstract: Soda lignin, a more linear polymer, blended with PAN could produce more carbon fibers with doubled tensile stress.

Cited by 61 publications

References 40 publications

Discovering Biomass Structural Determinants Defining the Properties of Plant-Derived Renewable Carbon Fiber

Discovering Biomass Structural Determinants Defining the Properties of Plant-Derived Renewable Carbon Fiber

Development of lignin‐based carbon foam for use as an FRP sandwich core material

Optimization of high‐quality carbon fiber production from electrospun aligned lignin fibers

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