Biomass-derived materials for energy storage and electrocatalysis: recent advances and future perspectives

Over the last decade, there has been significant effort dedicated to both fundamental research and practical applications of biomass-derived materials, including electrocatalytic energy conversion and various functional energy storage devices. Beyond their sustainability, eco-friendliness, structural diversity, and biodegradability, biomass-derived materials provide additional benefits, including naturally organized hierarchical structures, rich surface properties, and an abundance of heteroatoms. These characteristics make them appealing candidates for effective energy storage and electrocatalytic energy conversion applications. This review explores the recent advancements in biomass-derived materials for energy storage system (ESS), including supercapacitors and electrocatalytic reactions. We also address the scientific and technical hurdles associated with these materials and outline potential avenues for future research on biomass-based energy conversion applications. By emphasizing the significance of controllable structural designs and modifications, we highlight their crucial roles in advancing this field. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)