Tuning thermal and graphitization behaviors of lignin via complexation with transition metal ions for the synthesis of multilayer graphene-based materials

• DOI: 10.1039/d3ra05881f
• Publication Date: 2024-03-04T12:31:36Z
• Authors: Qiangu Yan; Hanwen Zhang; Timothy Ketelboeter; Yucheng Peng; Caixia Wan; Zhiyong Cai
• Keywords: Chemistry; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Thermal conversion of kraft lignin, an abundant renewable aromatic substrate, into advanced carbon materials including graphitic and multilayer/turbostratic graphene has recently attracted great interest. Our innovative catalytic upgrading approach integrated with molecular cracking welding (MCW) enables mass production lignin-derived multilayer graphene-based materials. To understand the critical role metal catalysts in synthesis graphene, this study was focused on investigating effects transition metals (i.e., molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), iron (Fe)) thermal graphitization behaviors lignin. During preparation metal-lignin (M-lignin) complexes, Fenton-like reactions were observed formation Fe- Cu-lignin while Ni ions strongly interacted oxygen-containing surface functional groups lignin Mo oxyanions weakly through ionic bonding. Different chelation mechanisms influenced stabilization, graphitization, MCW steps involved upgrading. The M-lignin complex each three characterized. It found that nanoplatelets can be obtained from Fe-lignin via operation at 1000 °C under methane (CH4). Raman spectra indicated Ni-lignin complexes experienced a higher degree than Cu- Mo-lignin during treatment.