Research advancements in the synthesis of rape pollen-derived porous carbon materials with high value-added properties

Biomass is regarded as a carbonaceous solid renewable resource with significant potential. Extensive research has been conducted to explore its application as a sustainable raw material for the development of advanced carbon materials. Natural rape pollen is an abundant and renewable biomass material that possesses distinctive characteristics such as spherical porosity, large pore size, high specific surface area, and a hollow structure. These unique properties have garnered significant attention due to the material's high yield, low cost, and environmentally friendly nature. Rape pollen has gained significant attention as a biotemplate for the synthesis of functional materials with controllable micro/nanostructures, owing to its well-developed porosity and specific open hierarchical scaffolds. This paper presents a comprehensive review on the utilization of rape pollen for the synthesis of porous carbon materials, which have found significant applications in catalysts, supercapacitors, separation, and adsorbent materials. The study explores the recent advancements in the preparation of rape pollen-based porous carbon materials and provides an in-depth analysis of their facilitating roles and reaction mechanisms in various applications. Finally, the potential future applications of rape pollen in various industries are anticipated to enhance the utilization of these valuable biomass resources.