From Biowaste Originated Nano SiO2 to Biogenic Graphite – from Scratch to High Value Product

Carbon is a is a fascinating element enabling production of variable compounds and composite structures for different application. Synthesis of high value and profitable graphitic carbon materials from biomass-based feedstock remains challenging. In our recent studies, we have developed synthesis procedure to synthesize nanosized graphitic carbon structures from nSiC/C composite. All the starting materials were biomass-originated. nSiC/C composite was synthesized from nanostructured SiO2 obtained from agricultural side stream barley husk, and sucrose through magnesiothermic reduction. nSiC/C, composing of 3C- and 2H- polytypes, was converted to the graphitic carbon structure through Si sublimation at 2400 °C and atmospheric pressure. Graphitic carbon structures composed of spherically shaped particles 50-500 nm in size and sheet structures. The analysis of the electrochemical properties of the synthesized graphene-like carbon structures were comparable to the electrochemical properties of the graphite. and the rate capability analysis showed good reversibility of the specific capacity.

References

J. Su, B. Gao, Z. Chen, J. Fu, W. An, X. Peng, X. Zhang, L. Wang, K. Huo, P.K. Chu, Large-Scale Synthesis and Mechanism of β-SiC Nanoparticles from Rice Husks by Low-Temperature Magnesiothermic Reduction, ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 4 (2016) 6600–6607.

A. Lähde, O. Haluska, S-M. Alatalo, O. Sippula, A. Meščeriakovas, R. Lappalainen, T. Nissinen, J. Riikonen and V-P. Lehto, Synthesis of graphene-like carbon from agricultural side stream with magnesiothermic reduction coupled with atmospheric pressure induction annealing, IOP nano express (2020).

B. Zhao, H. Zhang, H. Tao, Z. Tan, Z. Jiao, M. Wu, Low temperature synthesis of mesoporous silicon carbide via magnesiothermic reduction, Mater. Lett. 65 (2011) 1552–1555.

M. Miettinen, J. Hokkinen, T. Karhunen, T. Torvela, C. Pfüller, M. Ramsteiner, U. Tapper, A. Auvinen, J. Jokiniemi, A. Lähde, Synthesis of novel carbon nanostructures by annealing of silicon-carbon nanoparticles at atmospheric pressure, J. Nanoparticle Res. 16 (2013) 2168.

M. Miettinen, T. Torvela, C. Pfüller, J. Hokkinen, M. Ramsteiner, L. Modesto-Lopez, J. Jokiniemi, A. Lähde, Structure of a new rotationally faulted multi-layer graphene-carbon nanoflower composite, Carbon, 84 (2015) 214-224.