The goal of this research was to synthesize activated nitrogen-doped nanocarbons with high specific surface area and adjustable pore size distribution using wood charcoal as a raw material. The resulting carbon materials were tested for possible application as oxygen reduction reaction catalysts in alkaline media. Activated carbons were obtained using a thermochemical activation method with NaOH. Nitrogen was introduced into activated carbons using dicyandiamide solution. It was demonstrated that the content of introduced nitrogen depends on oxygen content in the structure of the activated carbon. The oxygen reduction reaction activity of the activated and nitrogen-doped carbon material was comparable with a commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst. Electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized N-doped wood-derived carbon catalysts may be associated with the highly developed surface area, specific ratio of micro- and mesopores, as well as the high percentage of pyridinic nitrogen.

Fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors are critical to meet the rising global demand for clean, sustainable energy. Biomass-derived activated carbon can be obtained with tailored properties to fulfil the extensive need for low-cost, high-performance, catalyst and electrode materials. To investigate the possibility of nanoporous nitrogen-doped carbon materials as catalysts in fuel cells and electrodes in lithium-ion batteries, biomass precursors were thermochemically activated with NaOH at 800 °C, nitrogen was introduced using dicyandiamide and doping was performed at 800 °C. The chemical composition, porous structure, texture and electrochemical properties of the obtained materials change depending on the biomass precursor used. It has been found that the most promising precursor of the obtained materials is wood char, both as an oxygen reduction catalyst in fuel cells, which shows better properties than the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst, and as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. However, catalysts based on black liquor and hybrid material have comparable properties with commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst and can be considered as a cheaper alternative.

Herein, we present a synthesis route for high-efficiency nitrogen-doped carbon materials using kraft pulping residue, black liquor, and wood charcoal as carbon sources. The synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon materials, based on black liquor and its mixture with wood charcoal, exhibited high specific surface areas (SSAs) of 2481 and 2690 m² g⁻¹, respectively, as well as a high volume of mesopores with an average size of 2.9–4.6 nm. The nitrogen content was approximately 3–4 at% in the synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon materials. A specific capacitance of approximately 81–142 F g⁻¹ was achieved in a 1 M Na₂SO₄ aqueous solution at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹. In addition, the specific capacitance retention was 99% after 1000 cycles, indicating good electrochemical stability.

Manganese- and nitrogen-doped carbon materials were produced using NaOH-activated wood char and wood-processing residues such as wood chips and black liquor and evaluated as oxygen reduction catalysts for further application in fuel cells or metal–air batteries. The elemental and chemical composition, with special attention given to types of nitrogen bonds and the structure, morphology, and porosity of the obtained catalyst materials were studied. The catalytic activity was assessed in an alkaline medium using the rotating-disk electrode method. It has been shown that synthesized and doped N-Mn catalytic materials based on biomass precursors with different chemical structures are a promising alternative to modern oxygen reduction catalysts based on precious metals.