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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Polymers

Lignin as a Sustainable Building Block for Electrochemical Energy Devices: A Critical Review

  • Pablo Reyes-Contreras1,2
  • María Graciela Aguayo3,4
  • Rosario del P. Castillo1,5
  • Regis Teixeira Mendonça1,2,6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
  2. 2Centro de Innovación en Tecnología y Diseño de Materiales para el Entorno Construido—CIMAc, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Santiago 9170022, Chile
  3. 3Departamento de Ingeniería de Procesos y Bioproductos, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Avenida Collao 1202, Concepción 4051381, Chile
  4. 4Centro Nacional de Excelencia Para la Industria de la Madera (CENAMAD), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile
  5. 5Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
  6. 6Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
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Abstract

Lignin, the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on Earth, has gained significant attention as a sustainable precursor for materials used in advanced energy storage technologies. Its intrinsic chemical complexity, featuring phenolic, methoxy, and quinone-like functionalities, enables multiple valorization pathways, including the production of carbon materials, redox-active polymers, polymer electrolytes, and functional binders. Recent advances in lignin extraction, fractionation, targeted chemical modification, and controlled carbonization have significantly broadened the functional scope and electrochemical performance of lignin-based components across a wide range of systems, including batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid devices. This review consolidates recent progress in the development of lignin-derived materials for electrochemical energy storage, emphasizing structure–function relationships and the influence of lignin source and processing route on final material properties. Finally, we outline emerging prospects for integrating lignin-based materials into next-generation sustainable energy storage systems and present a roadmap for accelerating future scientific and industrial development.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{reyescontreras2026lignin,
  title = {{Lignin as a Sustainable Building Block for Electrochemical Energy Devices: A Critical Review}},
  author = {Pablo Reyes-Contreras and María Graciela Aguayo and Rosario del P. Castillo and Regis Teixeira Mendonça},
  journal = {Polymers},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/polym18212669},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2669},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Lignin as a Sustainable Building Block for Electrochemical Energy Devices: A Critical Review
AU  - Pablo Reyes-Contreras
AU  - María Graciela Aguayo
AU  - Rosario del P. Castillo
AU  - Regis Teixeira Mendonça
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
JO  - Polymers
DO  - 10.3390/polym18212669
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2669
AB  - Lignin, the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on Earth, has gained significant attention as a sustainable precursor for materials used in advanced energy storage technologies. Its intrinsic chemical complexity, featuring phenolic, methoxy, and quinone-like functionalities, enables multiple valorization pathways, including the production of carbon materials, redox-active polymers, polymer electrolytes, and functional binders. Recent advances in lignin extraction, fractionation, targeted chemical modification, and controlled carbonization have significantly broadened the functional scope and electrochemical performance of lignin-based components across a wide range of systems, including batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid devices. This review consolidates recent progress in the development of lignin-derived materials for electrochemical energy storage, emphasizing structure–function relationships and the influence of lignin source and processing route on final material properties. Finally, we outline emerging prospects for integrating lignin-based materials into next-generation sustainable energy storage systems and present a roadmap for accelerating future scientific and industrial development.
SN  - 2073-4360
ER  -