Review and Outlook on Biomass-Derived Carbon Materials and Their Functional Composites with 2D Materials for Sustainable Energy Storage Applications

Abstract The synergistic integration of sustainable biomass-derived carbon frameworks with highly conductive two-dimensional MXenes represents a promising frontier for bridging the energy–power gap in electrochemical energy-storage systems. This Review highlights the critical role of MXenes, transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), along with their composites with biomass-derived activated carbon, in designing advanced electrodes for energy storage systems. Biomass-derived carbons offer renewable, low-cost, and hierarchically porous structures that facilitate efficient ion transport, while MXenes provide exceptional electrical conductivity and surface functionality. Meanwhile, MOFs and TMDs introduce tunable porosity and abundant redox-active sites, enabling enhanced pseudocapacitive and Faradaic charge storage. A central focus of this Review is the influence of synthesis strategies on structural evolution and electrochemical performance. Various synthesis approaches are critically discussed to demonstrate how they can tailor three-dimensional architectures, interfacial interactions, and pore distribution, thereby directly influencing key performance metrics, such as specific capacitance, energy density, rate capability, and cycling stability. In addition, the Review comprehensively examines essential characterization techniques and practical performance parameters, including scalability, oxidation stability, and electrolyte compatibility, providing insights into the realistic evaluation of device performance. Finally, future research directions are outlined with an emphasis on green and scalable synthesis routes, flexible and wearable device integration, and the development of electrically efficient and structurally robust architectures. This Review provides a comprehensive framework for the design of next-generation hybrid materials, paving the way for high-performance, sustainable, and commercially viable energy storage technologies.