TY - JOUR
T1 - Lignin-based Photothermal Materials
T2 - Bridging Sustainability and High-Efficiency Energy Conversion
AU - Sun, Zhiwen
AU - Shao, Changyou
AU - Hao, Sanwei
AU - Zhang, Jifei
AU - Ren, Wenfeng
AU - Wang, Bing
AU - Xiao, Lingping
AU - Lei, Hanhui
AU - Liu, Terence X.
AU - Yuan, Zhanhui
AU - Sun, Run cang
PY - 2025/5/29
Y1 - 2025/5/29
N2 - Photothermal materials can effectively absorb light and convert it into heat, providing sustainable solutions to mitigate environmental pollution and energy shortages. Compared to traditional photothermal materials, lignin has garnered significant attention due to its wide availability, low cost, biocompatibility, renewability, and sustainability. Consequently, lignin-based materials are considered ideal candidates for the development of eco-friendly photothermal systems, aligning well with the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions. This review discusses the potential of lignin-based photothermal materials, highlighting their unique molecular structure and the photothermal properties imparted by their aromatic rings, which facilitate effective energy conversion through non-radiative vibrational relaxation. Discussed the latest advances in the applications of lignin photothermal materials in photothermal drive, solar desalination, and biomedicine. Despite the significant potential of lignin, challenges such as structural variability, long-term stability, and scalability remain critical. This paper integrates recent progress and proposes strategies to optimize the photothermal performance of lignin-based materials, while emphasizing important directions for sustainable development, thereby providing a roadmap to fully realize the potential of lignin in next-generation green technologies.
AB - Photothermal materials can effectively absorb light and convert it into heat, providing sustainable solutions to mitigate environmental pollution and energy shortages. Compared to traditional photothermal materials, lignin has garnered significant attention due to its wide availability, low cost, biocompatibility, renewability, and sustainability. Consequently, lignin-based materials are considered ideal candidates for the development of eco-friendly photothermal systems, aligning well with the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions. This review discusses the potential of lignin-based photothermal materials, highlighting their unique molecular structure and the photothermal properties imparted by their aromatic rings, which facilitate effective energy conversion through non-radiative vibrational relaxation. Discussed the latest advances in the applications of lignin photothermal materials in photothermal drive, solar desalination, and biomedicine. Despite the significant potential of lignin, challenges such as structural variability, long-term stability, and scalability remain critical. This paper integrates recent progress and proposes strategies to optimize the photothermal performance of lignin-based materials, while emphasizing important directions for sustainable development, thereby providing a roadmap to fully realize the potential of lignin in next-generation green technologies.
KW - environmental sustainability
KW - lignin
KW - photothermal conversion
KW - photothermal effect
KW - renewable energy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003455884&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/advs.202501259
DO - 10.1002/advs.202501259
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:105003455884
SN - 2198-3844
VL - 12
JO - Advanced Science
JF - Advanced Science
IS - 20
M1 - 2501259
ER -
