Call: +34 974 239 320
Email: dalvira@unizar.es
Address: Escuela Politécnica Superior, Crta de Cuarte, s/n. E-22071 Huesca – Spain
ABOUT ME
Research Interests
- Producing biomass-derived chars by pyrolysis of agricultural wastes.
- Developing advanced carbon materials for thermal, catalytic and electrochemical applications.
- Activation and doping of engineered carbons as anodes for sodium-ion batteries.
Projects
- MEDWASTE —Mediterranean Agricultural Wastes: Environmentally Sustainable Resource for an Innovative Renewable Energy Technology (PCIN-2017-048)
- BIOCARB-ion —Engineered biochar-derived carbons as anodes for sodium- and potassium-ion batteries (PID2019-107737RB-I00)
PUBLICATIONS
2024
Antorán, Daniel; Alvira, Darío; Sebastián, Víctor; Manyà, Joan Josep
Enhancing waste hemp hurd-derived anodes for sodium-ion batteries through hydrochloric acid-mediated hydrothermal pretreatment Journal Article
In: Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 184, pp. 107197, 2024, ISSN: 0961-9534.
@article{antoran_enhancing_2024,
title = {Enhancing waste hemp hurd-derived anodes for sodium-ion batteries through hydrochloric acid-mediated hydrothermal pretreatment},
author = {Daniel Antorán and Darío Alvira and Víctor Sebastián and Joan Josep Manyà},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953424001508},
doi = {10.1016/j.biombioe.2024.107197},
issn = {0961-9534},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-05-01},
urldate = {2024-05-01},
journal = {Biomass and Bioenergy},
volume = {184},
pages = {107197},
abstract = {Waste hemp hurd (WHH) was used as a sustainable feedstock for producing hard carbon-based anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Two easily scalable production pathways were tested and compared: (1) pyrolysis (at 500 °C) and subsequent annealing at 800, 1000 or 1200 °C, and (2) hydrothermal pretreatment (at 180 °C) and subsequent annealing at the above-mentioned highest temperatures. Results indicated that when a HCl (2 mol m−3) aqueous solution was used as hydrothermal medium, the textural, structural and surface chemistry features linked to the electrochemical performance of the resulting hard carbons improved. The WHH-derived electrode produced via HCl-mediated hydrothermal pretreatment and subsequent annealing at 1000 °C showed an exceptional electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity (535 mA h g−1 at 30 mA g−1) and rate capability (372, 156, 115, and 83 mA h g−1 at 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 A g−1, respectively) when an ester-based electrolyte was used (NaTFSI in EC/DMC). Using an ether-based electrolyte (NaPF6 in diglyme) improved both the ICE (from 69% to 78%) and cycling stability (85% of capacity retention after 300 cycles at 1 A g−1; 91% when current rate returned to 0.1 A g−1). In summary, relatively low-cost WHH-derived carbons are able to deliver an exceptional performance, much better than that reported so far for other biomass-derived carbons, and even close to that exhibited by more expensive and complex composite and hybrid materials.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Waste hemp hurd (WHH) was used as a sustainable feedstock for producing hard carbon-based anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Two easily scalable production pathways were tested and compared: (1) pyrolysis (at 500 °C) and subsequent annealing at 800, 1000 or 1200 °C, and (2) hydrothermal pretreatment (at 180 °C) and subsequent annealing at the above-mentioned highest temperatures. Results indicated that when a HCl (2 mol m−3) aqueous solution was used as hydrothermal medium, the textural, structural and surface chemistry features linked to the electrochemical performance of the resulting hard carbons improved. The WHH-derived electrode produced via HCl-mediated hydrothermal pretreatment and subsequent annealing at 1000 °C showed an exceptional electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacity (535 mA h g−1 at 30 mA g−1) and rate capability (372, 156, 115, and 83 mA h g−1 at 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 A g−1, respectively) when an ester-based electrolyte was used (NaTFSI in EC/DMC). Using an ether-based electrolyte (NaPF6 in diglyme) improved both the ICE (from 69% to 78%) and cycling stability (85% of capacity retention after 300 cycles at 1 A g−1; 91% when current rate returned to 0.1 A g−1). In summary, relatively low-cost WHH-derived carbons are able to deliver an exceptional performance, much better than that reported so far for other biomass-derived carbons, and even close to that exhibited by more expensive and complex composite and hybrid materials.
2023
Alvira, Darío; Antorán, Daniel; Vidal, Mariano; Sebastián, Víctor; Manyà, Joan Josep
Vine Shoots-Derived Hard Carbons as Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries: Role of Annealing Temperature in Regulating Their Structure and Morphology Journal Article
In: Batteries & Supercaps, vol. n/a, no. n/a, pp. e202300233, 2023, ISSN: 2566-6223, (_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/batt.202300233).
@article{alvira_vine_nodate,
title = {Vine Shoots-Derived Hard Carbons as Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries: Role of Annealing Temperature in Regulating Their Structure and Morphology},
author = {Darío Alvira and Daniel Antorán and Mariano Vidal and Víctor Sebastián and Joan Josep Manyà},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/batt.202300233},
doi = {10.1002/batt.202300233},
issn = {2566-6223},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-02},
urldate = {2023-08-02},
journal = {Batteries & Supercaps},
volume = {n/a},
number = {n/a},
pages = {e202300233},
abstract = {Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered one of the most promising large-scale and low-cost energy storage systems due to the abundance and low price of sodium. Herein, hard carbons from a sustainable biomass feedstock (vine shoots) were synthesized via a simple two-step carbonization process at different highest temperatures to be used as anodes in SIBs. The hard carbon produced at 1200 °C delivered the highest reversible capacity (270 mAh g−1 at 0.03 A g−1, with an acceptable initial coulombic efficiency of 71 %) since a suitable balance between the pseudographitic domains growth and the retention of microporosity, defects, and functional groups was achieved. A prominent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 97 % over 315 cycles was also attained. Comprehensive characterization unraveled a three-stage sodium storage mechanism based on adsorption, intercalation, and filling of pores. A remarkable specific capacity underestimation of up to 38 % was also found when a two-electrode half-cell configuration was employed to measure the rate performance. To avoid this systematic error caused by the counter/reference electrode polarization, we strongly recommend the use of a three-electrode setup or a full-cell configuration to correctly evaluate the anode response at moderate and high current rates.},
note = {_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/batt.202300233},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered one of the most promising large-scale and low-cost energy storage systems due to the abundance and low price of sodium. Herein, hard carbons from a sustainable biomass feedstock (vine shoots) were synthesized via a simple two-step carbonization process at different highest temperatures to be used as anodes in SIBs. The hard carbon produced at 1200 °C delivered the highest reversible capacity (270 mAh g−1 at 0.03 A g−1, with an acceptable initial coulombic efficiency of 71 %) since a suitable balance between the pseudographitic domains growth and the retention of microporosity, defects, and functional groups was achieved. A prominent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 97 % over 315 cycles was also attained. Comprehensive characterization unraveled a three-stage sodium storage mechanism based on adsorption, intercalation, and filling of pores. A remarkable specific capacity underestimation of up to 38 % was also found when a two-electrode half-cell configuration was employed to measure the rate performance. To avoid this systematic error caused by the counter/reference electrode polarization, we strongly recommend the use of a three-electrode setup or a full-cell configuration to correctly evaluate the anode response at moderate and high current rates.
Antorán, Daniel; Alvira, Darío; Peker, M. Eser; Malón, Hugo; Irusta, Silvia; Sebastián, Víctor; Manyà, Joan Josep
Waste Hemp Hurd as a Sustainable Precursor for Affordable and High-Rate Hard Carbon-Based Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries Journal Article
In: Energy Fuels, vol. 37, no. 13, pp. 9650–9661, 2023, ISSN: 0887-0624, (Publisher: American Chemical Society).
@article{antoran_waste_2023,
title = {Waste Hemp Hurd as a Sustainable Precursor for Affordable and High-Rate Hard Carbon-Based Anodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries},
author = {Daniel Antorán and Darío Alvira and M. Eser Peker and Hugo Malón and Silvia Irusta and Víctor Sebastián and Joan Josep Manyà},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01040},
doi = {10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01040},
issn = {0887-0624},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-01},
urldate = {2023-07-01},
journal = {Energy Fuels},
volume = {37},
number = {13},
pages = {9650–9661},
abstract = {The present study reports the promising potential of waste hemp-hurd-derived carbons as anodes in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Carbons were produced through an easily scalable process consisting of pyrolysis of raw biomass at 500 °C followed by mild chemical activation of the resulting char through wet impregnation with K2CO3 and subsequent heating of the solid phase (after filtration and drying) up to 700 or 800 °C under nitrogen. The best electrochemical performance was observed for the hard carbon activated at a char-K2CO3 mass ratio of 1:4 and heated up to 800 °C, which exhibited an excellent initial coulombic efficiency (73%) and achieved reversible charge capacities of 267 and 79 mAh g–1 at 0.03 and 1 A g–1, respectively. This material also exhibited an impressive cyclic stability and rate capability, with a capacity retention of 96% after 300 cycles at a current density of 2 A g–1. This more than satisfactory performance could be related to the textural and structural features of the hard carbon, which include moderate interconnected microporosity (with pore sizes below 1 nm), an appropriate concentration of defects in the carbon structure, relatively large interplanar distances, and a certain number of closed pores.},
note = {Publisher: American Chemical Society},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The present study reports the promising potential of waste hemp-hurd-derived carbons as anodes in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Carbons were produced through an easily scalable process consisting of pyrolysis of raw biomass at 500 °C followed by mild chemical activation of the resulting char through wet impregnation with K2CO3 and subsequent heating of the solid phase (after filtration and drying) up to 700 or 800 °C under nitrogen. The best electrochemical performance was observed for the hard carbon activated at a char-K2CO3 mass ratio of 1:4 and heated up to 800 °C, which exhibited an excellent initial coulombic efficiency (73%) and achieved reversible charge capacities of 267 and 79 mAh g–1 at 0.03 and 1 A g–1, respectively. This material also exhibited an impressive cyclic stability and rate capability, with a capacity retention of 96% after 300 cycles at a current density of 2 A g–1. This more than satisfactory performance could be related to the textural and structural features of the hard carbon, which include moderate interconnected microporosity (with pore sizes below 1 nm), an appropriate concentration of defects in the carbon structure, relatively large interplanar distances, and a certain number of closed pores.
2022
Alvira, Darío; Antorán, Daniel; Manyà, Joan Josep
Assembly and electrochemical testing of renewable carbon-based anodes in SIBs: A practical guide Journal Article
In: Journal of Energy Chemistry, vol. 75, pp. 457–477, 2022, ISSN: 2095-4956.
@article{Alvira2022b,
title = {Assembly and electrochemical testing of renewable carbon-based anodes in SIBs: A practical guide},
author = {Darío Alvira and Daniel Antorán and Joan Josep Manyà},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S209549562200479X},
doi = {10.1016/J.JECHEM.2022.09.002},
issn = {2095-4956},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-12-01},
urldate = {2022-12-01},
journal = {Journal of Energy Chemistry},
volume = {75},
pages = {457--477},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Alvira, Darío; Antorán, Daniel; Manyà, Joan Josep
Plant-derived hard carbon as anode for sodium-ion batteries: A comprehensive review to guide interdisciplinary research Journal Article
In: Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 447, pp. 137468, 2022, ISSN: 1385-8947.
@article{Alvira2022,
title = {Plant-derived hard carbon as anode for sodium-ion batteries: A comprehensive review to guide interdisciplinary research},
author = {Darío Alvira and Daniel Antorán and Joan Josep Manyà},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1385894722029564},
doi = {10.1016/J.CEJ.2022.137468},
issn = {1385-8947},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-11-01},
urldate = {2022-11-01},
journal = {Chemical Engineering Journal},
volume = {447},
pages = {137468},
publisher = {Elsevier},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}