Research Prospective of Lignin-Based Carbon Electrode Materials for Advanced Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications

Amidst escalating global energy demands and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, there is an urgent need to develop energy storage materials derived from low-cost and sustainable biomass. Lignin, an abundant aromatic polymer, has gained increasing recognition as a highly promising precursor for electrode materials due to its low cost, high carbon content, and rich functional groups. For electrochemical energy storage applications, lignin-derived carbon materials, including porous carbon, carbon fibers, and carbon aerogels, demonstrate considerable potential as effective electrodes. This review provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of recent advances in the field. It systematically elaborates on the types of lignin-based carbon materials, their preparation methods, as well as their microstructures and porosity. The application performance of these materials as carbon electrodes in batteries and supercapacitors is thoroughly examined. Furthermore, the review analyzes and summarizes the relationships between structure-performance, and highlights the current research progress and challenges associated with their preparation. Finally, it discusses the existing challenges in utilizing lignin-based carbon electrodes for electrochemical energy storage and explores their potential integration with emerging green technologies and novel theoretical approaches. By offering a critical perspective on these aspects, this review aims to provide valuable insights and strategic directions for future breakthroughs in the development of lignin-based energy storage materials.