Wood-Derived Graphite: A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Material for the Wide Range of Industrial Applications
Young Soon Kim, Md. Abu Hanif, Hyeonjin Song, Sungeun Kim, Yonu Cho, Seung‐Kon Ryu, Hong Gun Kim
Abstract
The study explored the graphitization of wood through two distinct methods: a high-temperature approach at 2400 °C and a low-temperature technique at 1400 °C using a catalyst. The graphitization properties were assessed by conducting thermal experiments at various temperatures (1100 °C, 1400 °C, 1800 °C, 2000 °C, and 2400 °C), both with and without a catalyst. The development of graphite lattices was quantitatively analyzed using an array of techniques: X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD analysis highlighted temperature-dependent changes in lattice parameters (d002, La, and Lc), while Raman spectroscopy tracked alterations in the D to G peak ratio (D/G) with temperature. An increase in temperature is correlated with a rise in the number of graphene layers and the degree of graphitization. Notably, the process of graphite lattice formation varied across the experimental temperature spectrum. The use of a catalyst resulted in a reduced d002 spacing, signifying an enhanced degree of graphitization. Moreover, the catalyst promoted a consistent and smooth graphitization process throughout the heating stages. In contrast, graphitization without a catalyst occurred at higher temperatures, specifically between 1800 °C and 2000 °C, with the d002 value stabilizing around 0.338 nm. The catalyst proved instrumental in transforming the initial structure into well-ordered graphite at lower temperatures. This investigation underscores the potential and benefits of employing a catalyst to generate high-quality graphite from wood at reduced temperatures, paving the way for sustainable and economically viable applications of this material.