Use of lignocellulosic materials and 3D printing for the development of structured monolithic carbon materials

In the present work, electrically conductive and mechanically resistant carbon structures were elaborated by 3D printing and subsequent pyrolysis using microfibrillated cellulose/lignosulfonate/cellulose powder (labeled as MFC/LS/CP) blends. The processability of MFC/LS/CP slurries by 3D printing was examined by rheological tests in both steady flow and thixotropic modes. The printed MFC/LS/CP pastes were self-standing, provided a high printing definition and were proved to be morphologically stable to air drying and the subsequent pyrolysis. Pyrolysis at a slow rate (0.2 degrees C/min) to a final temperature ranging between 400 and 1200 degrees C was used to manufacture MFC/LS/CP carbons. The TGA/DTG was applied to monitor the thermal degradation of MFC/LS/CP materials in blends as well as in a separated form. The resulting carbons were further characterized in terms of morphology, microstructure and physical properties (such as density, electrical conductivity and mechanical strength). At 900 degrees C, MFC/LS/CP carbons displayed a high electrical conductivity of 47.8 S/cm together with a low density of 0.74 g/cm(3) and a porosity of 0.58. They also achieved an elastic modulus of 6.62 GPa. Such interesting electrical and mechanical properties would lead to a promising application of MFC/LS/CP-derived biocarbons in energy storage devices as electrode materials in close future.