Nature’s blueprint for energy: biomass-derived heteroatom-doped graphene materials for advanced energy applications

Abstract The growing demand for clean energy and sustainable technologies has intensified the need for efficient energy storage systems (EES) that support renewable energy integration while minimizing environmental impact. Biomass, an abundant and renewable resource, presents a cost-effective and eco-friendly pathway for producing advanced carbon materials, particularly heteroatom-doped graphene derivatives. This transformation aligns with circular economy principles by converting waste streams into high-performance materials for EES applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of biomass-derived heteroatom-doped graphene materials, focusing on their synthesis, properties, and applications in electrochemical energy storage systems. It addresses a critical gap in the literature by systematically examining the relationship between biomass sources, doping strategies, and their impact on graphene’s electrochemical performance. The study highlights the role of heteroatom doping such as nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and boron in enhancing graphene’s structural and electronic properties. These modifications introduce active sites, improve conductivity, and facilitate ion storage and transport, resulting in superior energy density, cycling stability, and charge–discharge performance in devices such as sodium/lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Recent advancements in green synthesis methods, including pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and chemical activation, are highlighted, focusing on their scalability and resource efficiency. By addressing both environmental and technological benefits, this review bridges the gap between laboratory research and practical applications. It underscores the critical role of biomass-derived graphene in achieving sustainable energy solutions and advancing the circular economy, offering a roadmap for future innovations in this rapidly evolving field. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the transformation of diverse biomass resources into heteroatom-doped graphene derivatives through pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and chemical/physical activation processes. These advanced carbon materials exhibit enhanced properties for applications in electrochemical energy storage systems, including batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells.