(180k) Utilizing Peanut Oil-Derived Graphitic Carbon for Enhanced Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Sustainable Approach

The continuous pursuit of sustainable energy solutions has led to extensive research on renewable materials for energy storage applications. The ever-growing demand for high-performance energy storage systems has stimulated research in novel electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Graphite stands as the primary anode material for current lithium-ion battery (LiB) technology and holds promise for emerging battery chemistries utilizing silicon or sulfur. However, the demand for graphite in envisioned battery-based systems is poised to surpass available natural and synthetic graphite resources. Therefore, the quest for sustainable and high-performance materials in energy storage systems has led to the exploration of bio-derived carbonaceous materials as potential candidates for LIB applications. This abstract presents an overview of the utilization of peanut oil-derived graphitic carbon (POGC) as an emerging electrode material for LIBs.

The synthesis of POGC involves a facile and cost-effective approach. Initially, cooking peanut oil is subjected to a series of thermal treatments under controlled conditions and insitu chemical vapor deposition to induce carbonization and graphitization processes. The resultant carbon material exhibits a well-defined graphitic structure with desirable textural properties, including high surface area and pore volume, which are crucial for enhanced lithium-ion diffusion and storage capacity. POGC, derived from peanut oil, offers several advantages, including low-cost precursor material, abundant availability, and environmental friendliness.

The utilization of peanut oil-derived graphitic carbon as an electrode material for LIBs presents several compelling advantages. Firstly, it offers a sustainable and renewable alternative to conventional carbon precursors, contributing to the reduction of environmental impact associated with battery production. The utilization of peanut oil as a sustainable precursor material for carbonization aligns with the principles of green chemistry, offering a renewable and environmentally benign route for the synthesis of graphitic carbon materials. Moreover, the facile synthesis route ensures scalability and cost-effectiveness, making it commercially viable for large-scale battery manufacturing. Furthermore, the unique structural characteristics of the carbon material, such as its high conductivity and abundant active sites, hold promise for improving the electrochemical performance of LIBs. The integration of POGC into Li-ion battery electrodes represents a promising approach towards the development of sustainable and high-performance energy storage devices.

Various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis have been employed to elucidate the morphology, crystallinity, surface area, and pore structure of the POGC material. Peanut oil-derived graphitic carbon (POGC) exhibited unique structural features such as high graphitization degree, interconnected porous structure, and large specific surface area, which contribute to its excellent electrochemical properties. These features will facilitate rapid lithium-ion diffusion, promote intimate contact between the electrode and electrolyte, and provide abundant active sites for lithium storage, thereby enhancing the specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability of LIBs. The excellent Li-insertion properties are expected to result in high reversibility in the half-cell anode assembly and in LIB, which will be close to the theoretical capacity of graphite.

Finally, POGC presents a promising electrode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Its sustainable synthesis route, coupled with its superior electrochemical properties, positions it as a compelling candidate for next-generation energy storage systems. The successful utilization of renewable bio-derived precursors underscores the potential of green chemistry approaches in advancing the development of advanced materials for energy applications. Future research efforts should focus on further optimizing the synthesis process and elucidating the underlying mechanisms to realize the full potential of POGC in practical battery applications.

Keywords: Peanut oil, Graphitic carbon, Lithium-ion batteries, Renewable materials, Sustainable energy, Electrochemical performance