Biomass derived diverse carbon nanostructure for electrocatalysis, energy conversion and storage

With the emerging requirement for clean renewable energy and storage system, the advancement of ecofriendly, low-cost, highly active electrode materials has expanded. Biomass, as a natural abundant, renewable source with diverse structure serves as an alternative sustainable source. Recent studies demonstrated that various applications of biomass-derived carbon materials are currently prevailing in electrocatalysis and energy storage and conversion system due to their tunable structure, multiple porosity and rich surface chemistry. Here, in this review, we primarily focus on the principal synthetic strategies of biomass-derived carbon including pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, chemical vapor deposition, molten salt carbonization, template method along with the assist of microwave and ultrasonication approach. Then, this review strives to highlight the recent development of various dimensions of biomass-derived carbon nanostructure ranging from zero-dimensional carbon dots, one-dimensional carbon nanotubes/fibers/wires, two-dimensional carbon nanosheets to three-dimensional hierarchical carbon in view of pore size and surface area. We also summarize the primary application of biomass-based carbon nanostructure in versatile electrocatalysis, various kinds of secondary batteries, supercapacitors, and other energy related storage fields. Finally, challenges in the development of biomass-based carbon and the large-scale production in industrial fields are addressed.