Controllable conversion of rice husks to Si/C and SiC/C composites in molten salts

Abstract Direct conversion of biomass to functional materials is an ideal solution to relieve challenges in environmental and energy sustainability. We herein demonstrate a molten salt thermoelectrolysis of rice husks (RHs) mainly consisting of organic mass and biosilica to achieve high-efficiency and upgraded utilization of both Si and C in RHs. By coupling pyrolysis of organic mass with electrochemical reduction of silica in molten salts, the thermoelectrolysis of RHs in molten CaCl2–NaCl at 800 °C refines the RHs and acid-leached RHs to SiC nanowire/C (SiC-NW/C) and Si nanoparticle/C (Si-NP/C), respectively. The present study highlights the molten salt thermoelectrolysis for reclamation of biomass wastes in an affordable and controllable manner.