Lignosulfonate composited with electronic polymer for large scale ionic storage applications

Purpose and goal

Scalable materials for storing electricity are necessary to enable the conversion of the electricity system into renewable electricity from wind and solar energies. A renewable resource from the existing forest industry is the black liquor that is mainly used for incineration. The biopolymer that predominates in black liquor is a derivative of lignin. In this project we have shown how lignin and lignosulfonate (LS) can be used to store charge in biopolymer electrodes, and built supercapacitors / batteries of such electrodes.

Expected results and effects

In this project we have shown how lignin and lignosulfonate (LS) can be used to store charge in biopolymer electrodes, and built supercapacitors / batteries of such electrodes. In these electrodes, the insualting LS is combined with an electronic polymers or carbon nanoparticles. The aromatic part of LS can be partially converted into electroactive quinones, which double the storage capacity for charging in the electrodes, compared to electrodes of only electronic polymers or carbon nanoparticles.

Planned approach and implementation

Three participating parties have contributed knowledge and expertise in electronic polymers and biopolymer electrodes (Linköping University), knowledge and materials for lignin derivatives (Domsjö-Adityabirla) and expertise in scaling up and use of biopolymer electrodes in components (Ligna Energy AB).