A route towards graphene from lignocellulosic biomass: Technicality, challenges, and their prospective applications

As a result of its carbon-dense structure and renewable nature, lignocellulosic biomass has emerged as a novel source for the production of graphene. At sufficient heat, biopolymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) can be disintegrated into three-dimensional turbostratic crystallites, consisting of partially defective carbon sheets of aromatic rings (graphite-like material) via pyrolysis, where it may serve as a precursor in graphene synthesis. There are several techniques employed for graphene synthesis from lignocellulosic biomass; carbonization, graphitization, hydrothermal carbonization, chemical activation, chemical blowing technique, template-based confinement, mechanical and chemical exfoliation, and carbon growth via chemical vapor deposition. This review offers an insight into lignocellulosic biomass compositions and those aforementioned mechanisms to produce graphene-based materials, which cover various parameters and properties outcomes. A summary of their applications prospect, environmental impacts, economic concerns and production challenges is also presented.