Versatile carbon-based materials from biomass for advanced electrochemical energy storage systems

The development of new energy storage technology has played a crucial role in advancing the green and low-carbon energy revolution. This has led to significant progress, spanning from fundamental research to its practical application in industry over the past decade. Nevertheless, the constrained performance of crucial materials poses a significant challenge, as current electrochemical energy storage systems may struggle to meet the growing market demand. In recent years, carbon derived from biomass has garnered significant attention because of its customizable physicochemical properties, environmentally friendly nature, and considerable economic value. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the production-application chain for biomass-derived carbon. It provides a comprehensive analysis of morphology design, structural regulation, and heteroatom-doping modification, and explores the operational mechanisms in different energy storage devices. Moreover, considering recent research progress, the potential uses of biomass-derived carbon in alkali metal-ion batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, and supercapacitors are thoroughly assessed, offering a broader outlook on the emerging energy sector. Finally, based on the technical challenges that need to be addressed, potential research directions and development objectives are suggested for achieving large-scale production of biomass-derived carbon in the field of energy storage. © 2024 The Authors