Lignin batteries
A new nature-based solution for carbon storage
A magic byproduct
Lignocellulosic biomass, composed of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, is a naturally abundant resource on Earth. Lignocellulose possesses mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and eco-friendly characteristics, making it widely utilized in various applications, including paper, fiber, and the pharmaceutical industries. When cellulose is isolated from lignocellulosic biomass, lignin becomes a byproduct. Traditionally considered waste, lignin is now being upscaled for higher values within the circular economy, contributing to sustainability.
Innovative applications of lignin include its use in batteries, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional batteries made from synthetic chemicals harmful to the environment. Lignin-based batteries play a crucial role in making large-scale systems, such as energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) technology, more environmentally friendly.
Lignin finds broad usage in different battery components, including the binder, separator, electrolyte, anode, and cathode. Lignin-based batteries are employed in consumer electronics, the automotive industry, and energy storage systems. For example, novel Li-ion battery anodes made from lignin have been developed for their low costs and sustainability, offering comparable performance to conventional graphitic anodes at a fraction of the cost. This positions lignin-based batteries as a promising solution for circular economy innovation in transportation.
Major pulp and paper companies, such as Stora Enso, have invested in lignin production from their own stream of the pulping process, with an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes. The lignin undergoes a refining process to transform it into a fine carbon powder, serving as an active material for the negative anode of lithium-ion batteries. The carbon powder is used to produce electrode sheets and rolls, which are then combined with other components to assemble a complete lithium-ion battery.
The molecular structure of lignin, with its unique aromatic carbon ring structure and active functional groups, makes it an ideal carbon material for various electrochemical reactions. Lignin can be transformed into different carbon structures, including carbon spheres, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanosheets, three-dimensional porous carbon, and carbon composites.
The successful utilization of lignin-based batteries depends on characteristics such as slow self-discharge, essential safety features, and favorable life-cycle properties. As research and development in this field progress, lignin-based batteries hold significant promise for a more sustainable and circular approach to energy storage solutions.
Benefits and market prospects
The utilization of lignin in battery systems faces challenges due to its insulating nature. However, the benefits offered by lignin-based batteries outweigh these challenges, particularly in the following aspects:
- Energy Efficiency:
- Waste lignin from paper mills is repurposed for making battery components, contributing to improved energy efficiency in pulp manufacturing.
- Lignin-based batteries enhance resource efficiency by utilizing lignin sidestreams from pulp mills, reducing the need for additional tree harvesting.
- Technical High Performance:
- Lignin-derived hard carbon serves as an anode material and outperforms competitors in cold conditions.
- Engineered hard carbon in lignin-based batteries exhibits lower expansion rates during charging, making them particularly useful for electric vehicles with faster charging and discharging capabilities.
- The batteries show promise in improving mechanical stability, ionic conductivity, thermal stability, redox-active material storage, and metal ion storage.
- Environmental Benefits:
- Lignin replaces graphite, a fossil carbon, reducing reliance on mined or fossil-based materials.
- The use of lignin in batteries helps address human rights concerns associated with graphite mining and reduces environmental impact.
- Lignin-based batteries offer recycling potential, serving as permanent energy storage with properties adequate for extended storage use.
- Availabilities for Markets:
- The global battery market demands are expected to increase significantly, and lignin-based batteries can contribute sustainably.
- Biomass availability allows for scalable commercial production, and lignin-based batteries can be sourced from certified European forests with traceability verified by sustainable raw-material management certificates.
Companies like Stora Enso are pioneering the use of lignin in batteries and have established strategic partnerships to accelerate scale-up and commercialization. Collaborations with companies like Northvolt aim to manufacture batteries in Nordic forests, reducing both the carbon footprint and costs. These partnerships leverage expertise in cell design, production process development, and innovative material production.
The EU’s investment in projects like BALIHT focuses on developing organic redox flow batteries suitable for challenging conditions, such as high temperatures. This technology is expected to improve energy efficiency by 20%, requiring less pump energy and offering high power, making it suitable for various applications, including renewable power plant smoothing, ancillary services, electric car recharge points, and enhanced grid flexibility and stability.
You might be interested in reading more:
Baloch, M., Labidi, J. 2021. Lignin biopolymer: the material of choice for advanced lithium-based batteries. Royal Society of Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA02611A
Baraniuk, C. 2023. The promise of batteries that come from trees. BBC. Last visited 16.2.2024
CORDIS. 2023. Development of full lignin based organic redox flow battery suitable to work in warm environments and heavy multicycle uses.
forest.fi. 2023. Wood-based battery can triple charging speed of car batteries.
Jung et al. 2022. Lignin-Based Materials for Sustainable Rechargeable Batteries. Polymers, 14(4), 673. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14040673
Li et al. 2023. A Lignin-Based Carbon Anode with Long-Cycle Stability for Li-Ion Batteries. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(1), 284. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010284
Northvolt. 2022. Stora Enso and Northvolt partner to develop wood-based batteries. Last visited 16.2.2024
Stora Enso. Lignode. Last visited 16.2.2024
Stora Enso. From trees to batteries. Last visited 16.2.2024
Stora Enso. Lignode® by Stora Enso: The future of electric cars is powered by trees. White paper. Last visited 16.2.2024
Södra. Lignin – A bond for the future. Last visited 16.2.2024
Wang et al. 2022. Lignin-based materials for electrochemical energy storage devices. Nano materials science, 4, 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoms.2022.01.002
Photo: Magnus Glans / Stora Enso