Heteroatom-doped lignin derived carbon materials with improved electrochemical performance for advanced supercapacitors

Heteroatom-doped lignin- derived carbon materials with unique electronic, chemical and surface properties have emerged as a promising subject of investigation in the field of energy storage devices. Heteroatom doping contributes to the enhancement of pseudocapacitance and the improvement of reversible storage capacity and rate capability of ions. Although numerous lignin-derived carbon materials for supercapacitors have been reported, mechanisms to enhance the electrochemical performance of these carbon materials by heteroatom doping are not yet summarized comprehensively. In this paper, the progresses of recent research on heteroatomdoped lignin-derived carbon for supercapacitors are reviewed. The effects of single/double/multiple heteroatom doping on the structure and composition of lignin-derived carbon materials are elaborated, and the properties and applications of heteroatom-doped lignin-based carbon electrode materials are systematically reviewed. Finally, some inadequacies and perspectives are outlined with a view to obtaining a more comprehensive knowledge of lignin-derived heteroatom-doped carbon as supercapacitor electrodes. This review summarizes and provides future prospects for heteroatom-doped lignin-derived supercapacitor carbon electrode applications.