From Biomass to Functional Carbon Electrodes for Batteries and Supercapacitors: A Mini Review

Abstract

The increasing global demand for high-performance energy storage systems has stimulated extensive research into the development of sustainable and efficient electrode materials. Conventional fossil-based and hazardous electrode materials often face limitations related to cost, environmental impact, resource availability, and long-term sustainability. In this context, biomass-derived carbon materials have emerged as promising alternatives due to their renewable origin, low cost, abundance, and environmentally benign nature. These materials can be engineered to possess tunable hierarchical porosity, large specific surface area, heteroatom doping, and tailored surface chemistry, which collectively improve ion transport, electrolyte wettability, charge storage behavior, and overall electrochemical performance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of biomass-derived carbon materials for next-generation supercapacitors and batteries, focusing on diverse biomass precursors, including agricultural residues, fruit and nut peels, woody biomass, and algae. Furthermore, the review highlights the structure–property–performance relationship of biomass-derived carbons and evaluates their potential in advanced energy storage applications.