Researchers developing biomass-derived electrocatalysts (BDEs) faced a critical limitation in systematically optimizing these materials. Traditional classifications, which categorized catalysts based on biomass feedstocks like proteins or polysaccharides, fell short: this approach did not adequately account for the diverse functional roles BDEs could play within a catalytic system.
“Without a clear functional understanding of how biomass components contribute as active sites, supports, or fully bio-based systems, new catalysts with desired purposes remained difficult to design,” explains Tengyi Liu, a member of an AIMR research team. “This limitation hindered the broader adoption of BDEs for sustainable energy technologies.”
In a 2023 review article, Liu and Hiroshi Yabu analyzed the progress in biomass-derived electrocatalysts by examining relevant works from the literature, addressing the challenges of inconsistent performance through a more systematic approach.
The team introduced a novel classification system for these BDEs. Rather than focusing on feedstocks, the review categorized them based on their roles in the catalytic system—whether as active components, carbon supports, or entirely bio-based catalysts.
“To address these challenges, we carefully analyzed existing studies, distinguishing key insights through a novel approach,” says Liu. “By thoroughly examining synthesis processes, identifying true active sites, and using characterization data to determine scale, we proposed a new framework for categorizing BDEs.”
The novel categorization of BDEs based on their roles and component scales provided a foundation for a biomass-derived database—a resource designed to accelerate the development of tailored catalysts and help researchers address challenges in sustainable energy technologies more efficiently.
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The paper Biomass-Derived Electrocatalysts: Low-Cost, Robust Materials for Sustainable Electrochemical Energy Conversion, was published in Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research 5, 2300168 (2024). Authors: Tengyi Liu & Hiroshi Yabu.
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The article Biomass-derived electrocatalysts: A leap towards sustainable energy conversion written by Patrick Han, Ph.D., was published on the WPI-AIMR’s website