Strategies for sustainable synthesis processes of nanocarbons from biomass

Abstract

Since their discovery, carbon nanostructures have been subject of intense research worldwide due to their exceptional properties. In particular, carbon nanotubes, graphene and, graphene quantum dots, the latest addition to the nanocarbon materials family, that are at the cutting edge of nanotechnology development, have received great attention for their potentialities of innovation in almost all fields of knowledge. Despite significant efforts, techno-economic, environmental challenges related to large scale synthesis processes for the sustainable production of the carbon nanostructures still need to be faced in order to accomplish their massive applications. In this direction, processes for the synthesis of carbon nanostructures through conversion of biomass and/or biopolymers, employed as bioprecursors, have been extensively explored in the last years. The possible use of biomass as catalyst or catalyst support has also been addressed. Within this framework, the present chapter provides an overview of recent research initiatives and progresses attained, with specific focus on strategies based on different, relatively straightforward combinations of processes involving biomass and/or biopolymers, targeted at the sustainable, scalable production of graphene, graphene quantum dots and carbon nanotubes.