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Kraft Lignin as Electrode Material for Sustainable Electrochemical Energy Storage
Author(s) -
Chaleawlertumpon Saowaluk,
Berthold Thomas,
Wang Xuewan,
Antonietti Markus,
Liedel Clemens
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.201700698
Subject(s) - lignosulfonates , materials science , lignin , organic radical battery , energy storage , faraday efficiency , electrochemistry , carbon fibers , electrode , redox , chemical engineering , composite number , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , metallurgy
Electrochemical energy storage using lignin as a renewable electrode material is a cheap and sustainable approach for future organic batteries. Previous reports mainly focus on lignosulfonates (LS) or composites with conductive polymer additives with inherent problems, such as still expensive monomers. Here, composite electrodes are used from more available Kraft lignin and sustainable conductive carbon. Charge storage is evaluated in terms of electrical double layer storage and redox reactions, aiming at a better understanding of desired lignin properties for electrochemical energy storage. Using unmodified, commercial lignin and high surface area conductive carbon, reasonable capacity of ≈80 mAh g −1 is achieved in samples in which a thin layer of lignin covers the interface of high surface area carbon. Non‐faradaic contribution to charge storage is as large as in comparable pure carbon electrodes, and redox reactions in lignin contribute to additional, faradaic charge storage, significantly enhancing capacity in these systems. Resulting electrodes are cheap, reliable, and stable.