Advancing Energy Storage Technologies Beyond Lithium With Cellulose‐Derived Sustainable Carbon Materials
The transition to sustainable, high‐performance alternatives to lithium‐ion systems is accelerating research progress in electrochemical energy storage. Cellulose‐derived carbons, made from abundant, renewable biomass, are emerging as promising candidates, offering natural environmental friendliness, adjustable structure, and functional versatility. This review examines the hierarchical architecture of cellulose, its carbonization pathways, and the influence of extraction and processing methods on precursor properties. Advances in synthetic techniques, from heteroatom doping to creating composite hybrids, are discussed for their role in controlling porosity, conductivity, and electrochemical behavior. Structure‐property relationships and function of these carbons are analyzed in the context of sodium‐, potassium‐, zinc‐, and magnesium‐ion batteries, as well as hybrid supercapacitors. Important material properties, including electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and morphological control, are analyzed in relation to device performance. Challenges related to scalability, electrolyte compatibility, and cycle life are addressed, with a focus on sustainable synthesis and integration routes. This review uniquely integrates cellulose‐derived carbon across multiple postlithium energy storage systems with a focus on scalable synthesis and electrochemical optimization.
Authors
- Satyanarayanan Seshadri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4851-302X)
- John Marcus Bell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4284-6261)
- Kothandaraman Ramanujam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2231-2665)
- Lei Ge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2989-0329)
- Ashok Kumar Nanjundan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6502-0844)
- S. A. V. Dananjaya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1415-3958)
- Nisa V. Salim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8069-8039)
- Venkata S. Chevali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5648-0344)
- Pratheep K. Annamalai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7284-0813)
- Nethmi Hansika
Institutions
- Open University of Sri Lanka (LK)
- University of Southern Queensland (AU)
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IN)
- Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small Structures
- Published
- 2025-11-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202500551
- Primary Topic
- Advancements in Battery Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00