Facile modulation of hierarchical structures in biomass-derived carbon via metal–organic framework-mediated assembly for enhanced oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction reactions
image: A MOF-mediated Structural Modulation of biomass-derived carbon into flower-like architectures, achieving ORR activity (0.83V vs. RHE) comparable to Pt/C and enabling uniform Ni doping for CO2 electroreduction. This design delivers >91% FECO at −1.0 V vs RHE with 84.8% stability over 48-hour operation, outperforming irregular morphologies.
Credit: Nano Research, Tsinghua University Press
Growing environmental pressures from traditional fossil fuels have spurred the search for renewable energy conversion and storage technologies. To achieve carbon neutrality, zero-emission technologies like proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and CO2 electroreduction—relying on efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR)—are essential. While biomass-derived carbon outperforms precious metal catalysts in cost, sustainability, and carbon neutrality, controlling its hierarchical structure (to ensure porousness and effective doping) has long been a bottleneck.
A team led by Distinguished Professor Haiping Yang at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) addressed this challenge by developing a metal-organic framework (MOF)-mediated assembly strategy. They used bamboo (a biomass) as a template and support to guide the self-assembly of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) precursors, then synthesized 3D flower-like N-doped hierarchical carbon via carbonization.
“The ordered flower-like structure, abundant pores, and N-doping endow the carbon with exposed, uniformly distributed active sites,” said Junjie Zhang, the first author. “This design gives it ORR activity comparable to commercial Pt/C— a key breakthrough for lowering PEMFC costs.” Theoretical calculations further confirmed that ordered N-doping reduces reaction free energy, boosting ORR performance.
Beyond ORR, the carbon also serves as an excellent substrate for nickel doping in CO2RR. The nickel-modified flower-like carbon achieved a 91% Faradaic efficiency for CO2RR and maintained stability for 48 hours—outperforming other nickel-doped carbon materials.
Professor Haiping Yang noted: “This work demonstrates how biomass can be upgraded into high-value carbon materials through rational structural design. We hope it inspires more studies on customizing biomass-derived carbon for diverse energy applications.”
Other contributors include researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the ITMO University.
This work was supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (52125601) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52306245, 52176187), the Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2023TQ0124), and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF (GZB20230235).
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Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.