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The latest research published in the "Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review" shows that lithium-sulfur batteries can use various types of biomass, and lithium-sulfur batteries have become a real competitor of lithium-ion batteries.
Research: The latest development of lithium-sulfur batteries using biomass-derived carbon as the main sulfur. Photo Credit: EVANATTZA/Shutterstock.com
According to the latest research, pollution and climate change are the biggest threats facing the modern world. The long-term use of fossil fuels has led to the emission of by-products that are severely harmful to the environment. The use of biomass in batteries may reduce the environmental impact of some industries.
According to research, lithium-based batteries are particularly attractive due to their high efficiency, low self-discharge rate and long life. The chemical reaction takes place between the lithium metal negative electrode and the sulfur-based positive lithium-sulfur battery.
During the depletion of the battery, the final reaction product is Li2S. In 2011, activated carbon (AC) made from pig bones was used for the first time as the sulfur body in the positive electrode of a lithium-sulfur battery. A few years later, activated carbon extracted from agricultural leftovers was used for the first time.
Amorphous non-graphite materials and standardized microporous, mesoporous and macroporous suitable structures are called activated carbon. The sizes of micropores, mesopores and macropores are respectively smaller than 2nm, 2-50nm and larger than 50nm. The rapid decomposition or combustion of the carbon-based precursor produces AC.
Illustrative representation of the three-dimensional lattice of graphite and amorphous activated carbon. Image source: Benítez, A et al., "Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review"
ACs are mainly composed of carbon. From the perspective of environmental pollution and minimum raw material availability, biomass precursors for AC production are the best choice. The production of activated carbon from natural biomass is commercially viable and has several advantages.
The five famous biomasses used in Li-S batteries are woody biomass, herbaceous and agricultural residues, aquatic, animal and human biomass, and contaminated and industrial biomass waste.
Different biomass energy sources are classified according to their sources. Image source: Benítez, A et al., "Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review"
According to the latest research, OH and ZnCl2 are used for activation. The temperature of carbonization is also different, ranging from 700 to 1000 degrees Celsius. The fact that the SBET value of non-activated carbon is much lower than that of activated carbon seems fair. Xu et al. Published an article on using activated carbon from forest waste as a cathode substrate for Li-S batteries.
The agricultural residues analyzed are diverse and can be divided into three categories: straw, flowers and plants. The carbonization time and temperature range are still very large, ranging from 1 to 3 hours and 600 to 900 degrees Celsius, respectively. Carbon from biomass such as camellia (W7) or reed flowers (W11) and various species of catkins (W8 – W10) have been detected in Li-S cells of the flower category.
According to research, the three most commonly used activators in this group are KOH, ZnCl2 and H3PO4, of which KOH is dominant. As far as the calcination temperature is concerned, the range is very wide, from 550 to 1000 °C. Publication by Li et al. Al. In 2019, a knowledge system was added for researchers interested in using corncob waste (and other biomass residues) as a sulfur host.
According to research, some marine aquatic plants are ideal and sustainable candidates for the production of porous carbon (C) or activated carbon (AC) due to low cost, high carbon content, and rapid development. The SBET and Vp values are higher than those of the unactivated ones because their S content is 80%.
According to recent research, the use of KOH as an activator for this type of biomass is still dominant. Compared with H3PO4, this method produces higher SBET and V p values, while also requiring a lower carbonization temperature.
The general preparation procedure and activation method of biomass-derived activated carbon. Image source: Benítez, A et al., "Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review"
For this group of carbon, only KOH is used as the active catalyst, and the carbonization duration and temperature range are also different. As predicted, activation will increase the SBET and V p values, but the composite material with the largest S content (70%) was found in the non-activated carbon with the lowest Vp value.
The focus of the latest research is that although there are various types of biomass, the most basic component is carbon. Carbon has a multi-layered pore structure, high SSA, high porosity, and high concentration of heteroatoms, which still exist after carbonization or implantation during activation, and generally seem to be preferred.
Although the study mentions core aspects, several factors such as the additional cost of alternating current, quantitative assessment of the required biological quality, and industrial expansion due to future demand still need to be carefully evaluated. Similarly, the problems related to the utilization of agricultural food biomass, such as the large demand for land and the existence of impurities, still need to be resolved.
In short, low cost, especially minimal harmful environmental emissions, is the core advantage of promoting biomass power generation. Such diverse biomass does make it the best choice for current lithium-sulfur batteries.
Benítez, A., Gahete, JA, Chien, YC, Caballero, A., Morales, J. and Brandell, D. (2021). The latest development of lithium-sulfur batteries using biomass-derived carbon as the main sulfur. Renewable and sustainable energy review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032121010522
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Ibtisam graduated from the Islamabad Institute of Space Technology with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. During his academic career, he participated in multiple research projects and successfully managed multiple extracurricular activities such as International World Space Week and International Aerospace Engineering Conference. Ibtisam participated in an English essay competition during his undergraduate course and has always been interested in research, writing and editing. Soon after graduation, he joined AzoNetwork as a freelancer to improve his skills. Ibtisam likes to travel, especially to the countryside. He has always been a sports fan and likes watching tennis, football and cricket. Ibtisam was born in Pakistan and one day hopes to travel the world, build strong bonds of friendship, and spread the message of peace and love.
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