Structured Biocarbon as Next Generation High-Performance Materials

在自然界中，木质纤维素生物质中的水和营养物质的运输是通过一系列高度有序的结构进行的，例如活树中的血管、管胞、射线和坑。生物质由纤维素、半纤维素和木质素组成，其干质量的一半是碳——来自大气中的二氧化碳。在精心控制的条件下，生物质可以转化为生物碳——一种具有类似其前体的多孔结构的固体碳材料。生物碳尚未被系统地探索作为一种功能材料。该提案旨在释放结构化生物碳作为一种新型高性能材料的潜力，促进可持续性的应用。******这个提议有三个主要组成部分。首先，全面和系统地表征了由一系列生物质前体通过各种碳化条件生产的生物碳材料。目标是发现生物碳的基本性质（例如，导电性和导热性，渗透性，机械强度），并从原子（1厘米）尺度阐明这些性质与生物碳结构之间的关系。第二，对增强和增强生物碳材料的合成路线进行系统检查。目标是开发具有增强或独特性能的结构化生物碳材料，使其在现有应用或新应用中具有卓越的性能。第三，生物碳材料作为电极在储能装置（如超级电容器和可充电电池）和水的电容性净化中的性能研究。目标是发现和理解在这些应用中控制生物碳材料性能的机制，并开发允许合成具有优化性能的生物碳材料的工艺条件。******拟议的工作将与多伦多大学和其他加拿大大学的研究人员以及日本、意大利和中国的国际同事合作，使用既定和改进的方法进行。该计划将为30多名本科生和研究生提供机会，让他们在一个与地球福祉高度相关的令人兴奋的领域工作，培养在新经济中取得成功职业所需的专业知识和技能。这项关于生物碳的研究在产生社会和经济效益方面具有强大的潜力，特别是对加拿大这个拥有来自森林和农业残留物的大量生物资源的国家来说。从丰富的生物资源中创造一类新的功能材料，开发高性能清洁技术，促进可再生能源的利用，为温室气体减排做出贡献，本研究项目具有很强的影响力

In nature, the transport of water and nutrients in lignocellulosic biomass occurs through a series of highly ordered structures, such as vessels, tracheids, rays and pits in a living tree. Biomass is made of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, with half of its dry mass being carbon - originated from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Under carefully controlled conditions, biomass can be transformed to biocarbon a solid carbon material with porous structures that resemble its precursor. Biocarbon has not been systematically explored to serve as a functional material. This proposal is designed to unlock the potential of structured biocarbon as a new class of high-performance materials for applications that facilitate the sustainability. ******There are three major components in this proposal. First, a comprehensive and systematic characterization of biocarbon materials produced via various carbonization conditions from a range of biomass precursors. The goal is to discover the fundamental properties of biocarbon (e.g. electrical and thermal conductivity, permeability, mechanical strength) and to elucidate the relationships between these properties and the structures of biocarbon from atomic ( 1 cm) scales. Second, a systematic examination of synthesizing routes that enhance and augment biocarbon materials. The goal is to develop structured biocarbon materials that have enhanced or unique properties that allow superior performance in existing applications or the creation of new applications. Third, a performance study of biocarbon materials as electrode in electrical energy storage devices (e.g. supercapacitor and rechargeable batteries) and in capacitive purification of water. The goal is to discover and understand the mechanisms that govern the performance of biocarbon materials in these applications and to develop the process conditions that allow the synthesis of biocarbon materials with optimized properties. ******The proposed work will be carried out using established and modified methodologies in collaborations with researchers within the University of Toronto and other Canadian universities, as well as international colleagues in Japan, Italy and China. The program will provide opportunities for a group of over 30 students, both undergraduate and graduate, to work in an exciting area that is highly relevant to the wellbeing of the planet, to develop expertise and skills needed for a successful career in the new economy. This research on biocarbon possesses a strong potential in generating social and economical benefits, in particular for Canada - a country blessed with significant bio-resources from forests and agriculture residue. Creating a new class of functional materials from abundant bio-resources, developing high-performance clean technologies, facilitating the utilization of renewable energies, contributing to the greenhouse gas emission reduction, this research program is highly impactful.**