2D-3D electron transfer functions and stability of sustainable graphitic biocarbon for bipolar plate application

Abstract

Biocarbon being a highly demanding renewable source of carbon is important for many applications such as soil enrichment, electronic applications, etc. In this research, sustainable waste biomass-to-energy materials conversion, kinetic, thermodynamic and electronic properties of carbonized forest biomaterials were investigated to evaluate their high-potential in bipolar plate for fuel cell application. In thermogravimetric analysis, the lignin biocarbon showed the least activation energy of 95 KJ/mol compared to 127 and 145 KJ/mol for hardwood and softwood biocarbons respectively. The crystallographic nature of carbonized ligneous and cellulosic biomaterials was also investigated, showing its intrinsic properties and exotic functionality through semi-metallic properties determined from density function theory, transmission electron microscopy and UV–Vis absorption. Finally, the electrochemical properties of bio-carbon composites were examined to prove stability and corrosion resistance comparable to metallic plates. Biocarbon composites showed high polarization resistance up to 5.96 kΩ-cm² with non-reactive properties, favorable to use in bipolar plates as an alternative to metallic plate which is expensive and prone to corrosion. Overall, sustainable biocarbon shows its ability as a high-performance functional material alternative to expensive nanofillers as well as to enhance the attributes of the bipolar plate composite by increasing connectivity between primary filler and insulating resin.