Value-added graphene materials from woody resources

This project will demonstrate the utilization of wood biomass feedstock to produce grapheneproducts through a less expensive more environmentally friendly process. The wood feedstock isfirst pyrolyzed to biochar then the process developed at the University of Wyoming converts thebiochar to graphene oxide a viable product. Further treatment produces reduced graphene oxideand graphene nanosheets also viable products. Graphene materials are useful in a number ofapplications such as battery manufacturing pharmaceuticals concrete optics filtration andcomposites but these materials can be prohibitively expensive. Graphite can be economical as afeedstock but the lack of domestic production is a hinderance and equates to reliance on foreignsupply. The development proposed in this project can reduce synthesis costs and increaseavailability of these powerful and important materials while helping to utilize the estimated 82-88million dry tons of woody biomass available annually in the United States.Biochar will be produced from pine wood at various temperatures and processed to synthesize thegraphene products. Materials will be characterized at every step to track product evolution anddetermine optimal biochar characteristics. This STTR project partners the biochar and processengineering expertise of Acadian Research & Development with the graphene synthesis expertiseand prior knowledge of the Johnson Group at the University of Wyoming.This project aligns with USDA Strategic Goals and Research Priorities through development ofvalue-added products using forest resources to expand markets for emerging technologies as wellas climate change mitigation through retention of feedstock carbon in final products.