TY - JOUR
T1 - Unlocking the potential of vanadium redox flow batteries
T2 - Recent advances in biomass lignin-based carbon fibers and future outlook
AU - Zhao, Yu
AU - Ramachandran, Tholkappiyan
AU - Ghosh, Avijit
AU - Al-Sehemi, Abdullah G.
AU - Kumar, Yedluri Anil
AU - Rao, Sunkara Srinivasa
AU - Yadav, Akhilesh Kumar
AU - Mani, Durai
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2025/9
Y1 - 2025/9
N2 - Electrode materials play a pivotal role in determining the performance of redox flow batteries (RFBs), which are emerging as efficient and scalable energy storage systems for renewable energy integration. Conventional electrode materials such as graphite and carbon felt, while effective, are expensive and environmentally taxing. As a sustainable alternative, biomass-derived carbon fibers (BCFs) and lignin-derived carbon (LDC) have attracted significant attention due to their low cost, environmental friendliness, and desirable electrochemical properties. BCFs offer high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and mechanical durability, making them well-suited for RFB electrodes. Their performance can be further enhanced through physical and chemical activation processes that increase porosity and surface functionality. Lignin, a complex and abundant phenolic biopolymer, serves as a promising carbon precursor due to its high carbon content, thermal stability, and intrinsic redox activity. Through carbonization and activation, lignin can be converted into high-conductivity carbon materials with tunable properties for electrochemical applications. This review critically evaluates the current progress in the development and application of BCFs and LDCs in RFBs, highlighting how their integration can enhance electron transport, ion accessibility, and long-term stability. The combined use of these materials not only improves RFB efficiency but also contributes to reducing the overall carbon footprint of energy storage systems. Finally, the review identifies key challenges and outlines future research directions aimed at optimizing material synthesis, improving performance, and enabling large-scale implementation to support a more sustainable energy infrastructure.
AB - Electrode materials play a pivotal role in determining the performance of redox flow batteries (RFBs), which are emerging as efficient and scalable energy storage systems for renewable energy integration. Conventional electrode materials such as graphite and carbon felt, while effective, are expensive and environmentally taxing. As a sustainable alternative, biomass-derived carbon fibers (BCFs) and lignin-derived carbon (LDC) have attracted significant attention due to their low cost, environmental friendliness, and desirable electrochemical properties. BCFs offer high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and mechanical durability, making them well-suited for RFB electrodes. Their performance can be further enhanced through physical and chemical activation processes that increase porosity and surface functionality. Lignin, a complex and abundant phenolic biopolymer, serves as a promising carbon precursor due to its high carbon content, thermal stability, and intrinsic redox activity. Through carbonization and activation, lignin can be converted into high-conductivity carbon materials with tunable properties for electrochemical applications. This review critically evaluates the current progress in the development and application of BCFs and LDCs in RFBs, highlighting how their integration can enhance electron transport, ion accessibility, and long-term stability. The combined use of these materials not only improves RFB efficiency but also contributes to reducing the overall carbon footprint of energy storage systems. Finally, the review identifies key challenges and outlines future research directions aimed at optimizing material synthesis, improving performance, and enabling large-scale implementation to support a more sustainable energy infrastructure.
KW - Biomass-derived carbon
KW - Carbon fibers
KW - Electrocatalysis
KW - Electrode materials and porous carbon structures
KW - Energy efficiency
KW - Lignin-based materials
KW - Renewable energy storage
KW - RFBs
KW - Sustainable materials
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105006986577&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.108052
DO - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.108052
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:105006986577
SN - 0961-9534
VL - 200
JO - Biomass and Bioenergy
JF - Biomass and Bioenergy
M1 - 108052
ER -