Elucidation of biomass carbonization mechanism for crystalline control and application for energy devices

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15089
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 27030:Catalyst and resource chemical process-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: NAKANO Chiyu 岡山大学, 自然生命科学研究支援センター, サイテック・コーディネーター(特任) (20845458)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 木質バイオマス / 金属触媒 / 炭素化 / 結晶性カーボン / メカニズム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, carried out to clarified the interaction between the catalytic metal (i.e. Fe) and woody biomass. In order to examine how Fe and biomass interact, metal valences and arrangements had investigated by XPS and XAFS analysis. It were carried out at each stage below; after catalyst support, before crystalline carbon formation, immediately after formation, and after sufficient formation.
As a results, it clarified that the catalyst changes from oxide to zero valence during heat treatment, and suggested the changes state in valence and bonding state of the catalyst during carbon formation. Furthermore, it clarified the formation mechanism of crystalline carbon from a microscopic point of view from consideration of various factors i.e. XAFS, IR spectra and so on. The synthesized carbon shows a charge capacity close to that of commercial graphite, and it has the potential to replace commercial graphite as a battery negative electrode materials.

Free Research Field

材料化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

炭素材料は，軽量・高強度かつ半永久的に安定であり，高い導電性・熱伝導性等の優れた物性を有することから，金属を代替する材料として有望である。本研究は，学術的には結晶性カーボンの生成機構に関する科学的知見が得られたことで，これまで経験に頼っていたバイオマスの炭素化を科学的に理解できるようになったといえる。また，木質バイオマスから市販黒鉛と同程度の性能を持つ結晶性炭素材料の合成に見通しが得られた。これは，木質バイオマスの新規用途開拓へとつながり，例えば伐採されても放置されていた間伐材の利用促進が期待される。即ち，炭素材料を用いる二次，三次産業のみならず，一次産業への波及効果も多いに期待される。