A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Conductive Carbon Microfibers Derived from Wet-Spun Lignin/Nanocellulose Hydrogels
Authors: Wang L, Ago M, Borghei M, Ishaq A, Papageorgiou AC, Lundahl M, Rojas OJ
Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC
Publication year: 2019
Journal: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
Journal name in source: ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
Journal acronym: ACS SUSTAIN CHEM ENG
Volume: 7
Issue: 6
First page : 6013
Last page: 6022
Number of pages: 19
ISSN: 2168-0485
eISSN: 2168-0485
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b06081
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/39888789
We introduce an eco-friendly process to dramatically simplify carbon microfiber fabrication from biobased materials. The microfibers are first produced by wet-spinning in aqueous calcium chloride solution, which provides rapid coagulation of the hydrogel precursors comprising wood-derived lignin and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-l-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNF). The thermomechanical performance of the obtained lignin/TOCNF filaments is investigated as a function of cellulose nanofibril orientation (wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS)), morphology (scanning electron microscopy (SEM)), and density. Following direct carbonization of the filaments at 900 degrees C, carbon microfibers (CMFs) are obtained with remarkably high yield, up to 41%, at lignin loadings of 70 wt % in the precursor microfibers (compared to 23% yield for those produced in the absence of lignin). Without any thermal stabilization or graphitization steps, the morphology, strength, and flexibility of the CMFs are retained to a large degree compared to those of the respective precursors. The electrical conductivity of the CMFs reach values as high as 103 S cm(-1), making them suitable for microelectrodes, fiber-shaped supercapacitors, and wearable electronics. Overall, the cellulose nanofibrils act as structural elements for fast, inexpensive, and environmentally sound wet-spinning while lignin endows CMFs with high carbon yield and electrical conductivity.
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