Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-0053-2544

Advisor

El Barbary, Hassan M.

Committee Member

Yunsang, Kim

Committee Member

Street, Jason Tyler

Committee Member

Elsayed, Islam

Committee Member

Shmulsky, Rubin

Date of Degree

12-12-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Forest Resources (Sustainable Bioproducts)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Sustainable Bioproducts

Abstract

The growing global demand for clean, efficient, and scalable energy storage technologies has intensified the search for sustainable alternatives to conventional battery and supercapacitor systems. Traditional electrochemical energy storage devices often rely on finite and environmentally harmful materials, toxic electrolytes, and rigid architectures that limit their applicability in emerging domains such as flexible electronics and wearable technologies. Additionally, the leakage of liquid electrolytes poses a persistent safety and reliability challenge, particularly for long-term and real-world applications. This research addresses these pressing challenges by developing a new class of green, flexible, and high-performance electrochemical energy storage systems using bio-derived materials. The study is structured around three core objectives: First, cellulose nanofibers extracted from pine wood were engineered into flexible electrode architectures for use in wearable supercapacitors, with optimization of their mechanical resilience and electrochemical properties. Second, a solid-state biofilm electrolyte was synthesized from lignin via environmentally benign methods, providing a leak-proof, flexible alternative to conventional liquid electrolytes for supercapacitor integration. Third, activated carbon derived from red oak biomass was developed as a sustainable anode material for lithium-ion batteries, demonstrating high surface area, favorable porosity, and stable electrochemical performance. Each component of this work contributes toward building a holistic platform for sustainable energy storage, one that emphasizes green processing, renewable feedstocks, and functional flexibility without compromising device performance. The integration of these bio-sourced materials into flexible solid-state devices demonstrates the feasibility of replacing conventional, unsustainable components with eco-friendly, high-performance alternatives. In conclusion, this dissertation presents a blueprint for a novel and interdisciplinary approach to electrochemical energy storage by uniting materials science, green chemistry, and energy engineering. The outcomes provide foundational insight into the development of next-generation, sustainable, and flexible electrochemical systems that are well-positioned to meet the demands of a low-carbon and circular economy.

Sponsorship (Optional)

USDA-ARS

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