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Nanomaterials
Special Issues
Nanostructured Biomass-Based Materials for Energy Storage and Environmental Remediation
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Nanostructured Biomass-Based Materials for Energy Storage and Environmental Remediation

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanocomposite Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 August 2025 | Viewed by 1119

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Junqi Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: biomass/waste utilization; life cycle assessment; techno-economic analysis; pyrolysis; 2D/3D materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jinxing Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Science and Engineering, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
Interests: agricultural waste treatment; nanomaterials for protected agriculture; agricultural gel water retaining agent
Dr. Guang Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: polymers
Dr. Weiqiang Sun

E-Mail
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: porous graphene; nuclear engineering and technology; shielding materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials derived from biomass have emerged as a cutting-edge solution to address global challenges in sustainable energy and environmental protection. Combining the natural abundance, eco-friendliness, and tunable properties of biomass with the unique advantages of nanotechnology—such as high surface area, tailored porosity, and enhanced functionality—has unlocked tremendous potential for innovative applications.

This Special Issue focuses on the design, synthesis, and applications of nanostructured biomass-based materials in two key areas: energy storage (e.g., battery electrodes, electrolytes, and supercapacitors) and environmental remediation (e.g., heavy metal adsorption, water purification, and air pollution control). The convergence of biomass resources and nanotechnology not only addresses resource sustainability but also fosters the development of multifunctional, high-performance materials that align with global carbon neutrality and circular economy goals.

Scope of the Special Issue

Nanostructured Biomass-Based Materials for Energy Storage

  • Biomass-derived nanostructured carbon materials for lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and potassium-ion batteries.
  • Nanostructured biomass-based materials as high-performance supercapacitor electrodes.
  • Biomass-derived solid or gel polymer electrolytes with improved ionic conductivity.
  • Mechanistic insights into the electrochemical performance of biomass-based nanomaterials.

Nanostructured Biomass-Based Materials for Environmental Remediation

  • Nanostructured biomass materials for the adsorption and removal of heavy metals from water and soil.
  • Biomass-derived nanomaterials for the catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.
  • Porous and functionalized biomass-based nanomaterials for air purification and gas adsorption.
  • Recyclability and regeneration of biomass-based nanomaterials for long-term environmental applications.

Synthesis and Characterization

  • Advanced methods for the nanostructuring and modification of biomass materials (e.g., pyrolysis, hydrothermal treatment, and chemical activation).
  • Structure-property relationships of biomass-derived nanomaterials.
  • Characterization techniques for nanomaterials: morphology, porosity, chemical composition, and electrochemical behaviour.

Synergistic Applications and Future Perspectives

  • Dual-function biomass-based nanomaterials for simultaneous energy storage and pollutant remediation.
  • Challenges and strategies for the large-scale production of biomass-derived nanomaterials.
  • Life-cycle assessment, sustainability, and circular economy considerations of biomass nanomaterials.

Why Focus on Nanostructured Biomass-Based Materials?

Sustainable and Renewable: Biomass serves as an abundant, low-cost feedstock, contributing to resource sustainability.

Enhanced Performance: Nanostructuring improves specific surface area, reactivity, and functionality, making these materials highly efficient.

Eco-Friendly Solutions: Biomass-based nanomaterials are biodegradable and have minimal environmental impact.

Multifunctionality: Their versatility allows simultaneous application in energy storage and environmental protection, supporting global sustainability goals.

By combining nanotechnology with biomass resources, these materials provide innovative pathways to develop high-performance, low-cost, and sustainable solutions for energy and environmental challenges.

Dr. Junqi Wang
Dr. Jinxing Wang
Dr. Guang Hu
Guest Editors

Dr. Weiqiang Sun
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomass-based composites
  • intelligent biomass-based materials
  • biomass-modified electrolytes
  • electrode materials
  • supercapacitors
  • pollutant treatment
  • air purification
  • reusable adsorbents

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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12 pages, 2284 KiB  
Article
Activated Carbon from Spartina alterniflora and Its N-Doped Material for Li-Ion Battery Anode
by Hong Shang, Xinmeng Hao, Yougui Zhou, Jia Peng, Lihua Guo, Huipeng Li and Bing Sun
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(9), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15090658 - 26 Apr 2025
Viewed by 226
Abstract
The rampant growth of Spartina alterniflora has been wreaking havoc on the coastal ecosystems, leading to a serious environmental challenge in recent years. One potential solution to this issue involves converting Spartina alterniflora into activated carbon, offering a potential remedy for pollution while [...] Read more.
The rampant growth of Spartina alterniflora has been wreaking havoc on the coastal ecosystems, leading to a serious environmental challenge in recent years. One potential solution to this issue involves converting Spartina alterniflora into activated carbon, offering a potential remedy for pollution while creating value in energy storage applications. Herein, through a facile carbonization process with sodium hydroxide activation, we successfully transformed obsolete Spartina alterniflora into a porous carbon material (called SAC) and its nitrogen-doped derivative (denoted as SANC) by using melamine as the nitrogen source in a similar procedure. The amorphous structure of these materials was confirmed to enhance lithium-ion storage and electrolyte permeation, making them ideal for use as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. As a result, both SAC and SANC, derived from Spartina alterniflora, exhibited outstanding electrochemical performance including high capacity (456.7 and 780.8 mA h g−1 for SAC and SANC, respectively, at the current density of 6 mA g−1), excellent rate performance (from 6 to 600 mA g−1) and long-term cycling stability. Notably, compared to SAC, its N-doped derivative SANC showed superior properties in the battery (retaining a reversible capacity of 412.9 mA h g−1 at the current density of 6 mA g−1 even after 600 repeated charge–discharge cycles), demonstrating the significantly positive impact of heteroatom doping. This work not only offers a strategy to mitigate environmental challenges but also demonstrates the potential for converting waste biomass into a valuable resource for energy storage applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Biomass-Based Materials for Energy Storage and Environmental Remediation)
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Review

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24 pages, 5334 KiB  
Review
Review of Biomass-Derived Carbon Nanomaterials—From 0D to 3D—For Supercapacitor Applications
by Yihong Yan, Weiqiang Sun, Yuxin Wei, Kuankuan Liu, Jingjing Ma and Guang Hu
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(4), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15040315 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 706
Abstract
The transition to sustainable energy storage solutions has driven significant interest in supercapacitors, which offer high power density, rapid charge–discharge capabilities, and exceptional cycle stability. Biomass-derived carbon nanomaterials have emerged as compelling candidates for supercapacitor electrodes due to their renewable origins, environmental compatibility, [...] Read more.
The transition to sustainable energy storage solutions has driven significant interest in supercapacitors, which offer high power density, rapid charge–discharge capabilities, and exceptional cycle stability. Biomass-derived carbon nanomaterials have emerged as compelling candidates for supercapacitor electrodes due to their renewable origins, environmental compatibility, and cost-effectiveness. This study explores recent advancements in tailoring structural properties, for example in preparation methods and activation, which are essential for efficient charge storage and rapid ion transport. Attention is given to the dimensional configurations—spanning 0D to 3D structures—and their impact on electrochemical behaviors. This review outlines the challenges faced in scaling up and optimizing these materials for practical applications, alongside an outlook on future research directions. By bridging the gap between material design and application demands, this work contributes to advancing sustainable supercapacitor technologies for a greener energy future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Biomass-Based Materials for Energy Storage and Environmental Remediation)
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