Efficient Production of Hard Carbon from Modified Lignin (CARAMEL)

The large-scale use of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is expected to contribute to the realization of a fossil-free society that is dependent on energy derived from sustainable, earth-abundant, and bio-based raw materials.
Hard carbons derived from biomass resources like lignin have promising potential to enable commercial SIBs. The biggest challenge is that hard carbons exhibit undefined structure and chemical compositions making it difficult to predict their performance in practical applications.
This project brings together researchers from Uppsala University, RISE, and Altris AB to develop new synthesis routes to hard carbons from modified lignin. A range of lignin isolation, modification and carbonization steps will be devised to produce hard carbons with controlled structure and electrochemical characteristics.
New methods suited for characterizing hard carbons will be developed based on electrochemical methods, small-angle X-ray scattering, TEM, Raman scattering and electron spectroscopy.

Habtom Desta Asfaw
Uppsala University
habtom.desta.asfaw@kemi.uu.se
Project information
Participants
Uppsala University
RISE
Altris AB
Time schedule
January 2023 - December 2025
Total cost of project
7 528 566 SEK
Swedish Energy Agency project number
2022-00559
More projects

Efficient Production of Hard Carbon from Modified Lignin (CARAMEL)
The large-scale use of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is expected to contribute to the realization of a fossil-free society that is dependent on…
Manager: Habtom Desta Asfaw
Ongoing

More energy-efficient sawn-timber drying at sawmills
The drying of sawn timber requires a lot of energy and leads to quality losses, a limited production capacity, and high costs…
Manager: Olov Karlsson
Ongoing

Climate impact of carbon efficient forest-based value chains
Biomass can be used as a feedstock for producing renewable fuels and chemicals. The project investigates how forest residues and industrial side-streams…
Manager: Olivia Cintas Sanchez
Ongoing