Unlocking the potential of element doped biochar: from tailored synthesis to multifunctional applications in environment and energy
image: Unlocking the potential of element-doped biochar: from tailored synthesis to multifunctional applications in environment and energy
Credit: Junqi Zhao, Yunqiu Jiang, Xinyu Chen, Chongqing Wang & Hongyan Nan
Researchers from Zhengzhou University have released the most comprehensive review to date on the rapidly expanding field of element doped biochar. The study explains how simple biowaste can be transformed into powerful engineered materials with exceptional performance in pollution control, energy storage, soil improvement and industrial catalysis. The findings highlight the growing importance of advanced carbon materials in global efforts to address environmental and energy related challenges.
Biochar is traditionally created by heating agricultural or organic waste in the absence of oxygen. It has long been valued for its ability to improve soil quality and store carbon, contributing to climate mitigation. In recent years, scientists have discovered that the performance of biochar can be dramatically improved by adding specific chemical elements during production. This process, known as element doping, upgrades the internal structure of biochar and introduces new active sites that strengthen its environmental and energy functions.
The new review provides the most systematic summary so far of how different elements such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus and a wide range of metals can reshape the surface chemistry, porosity, electrical conductivity and catalytic activity of biochar. These changes are crucial for applications such as capturing heavy metals, breaking down organic pollutants, delivering nutrients, storing electrical energy and supporting electrocatalytic reactions.
The authors emphasize that element doped biochar has become one of the most active research frontiers in environmental materials science. Among the many advances discussed in the review, nitrogen doped biochar has shown remarkable performance in removing toxic metals and organic contaminants from polluted water. Sulfur and phosphorus doped biochar have demonstrated improved electron transport and enhanced catalytic properties, opening new opportunities for sustainable energy conversion technologies. Metal doped and multi element co doped biochar materials have also attracted increasing attention for their potential in advanced catalytic processes.
One of the most distinctive contributions of this study is the introduction of the PSPA framework. PSPA stands for preparation, structure, performance and application. This new conceptual model clearly illustrates how feedstocks, synthesis conditions and doping strategies influence the structural features of biochar, which in turn determine its functional performance. The framework provides a practical tool that helps researchers design tailored biochar materials for specific environmental and energy applications.
The review also highlights several emerging research directions. These include multi element synergistic doping, in situ utilization of naturally occurring elements within biomass feedstocks, and the development of rare earth doped biochar for nutrient recovery and high value catalysis. The authors note that future research should focus on mechanisms that control element distribution in biochar and on scalable production strategies that support industrial applications.
“Element doped biochar represents a promising class of multifunctional materials that can deliver strong environmental and energy benefits,” said Junqi Zhao, the study’s lead author from the School of Chemical Engineering at Zhengzhou University. “Our review provides a clear roadmap for the rational design of next generation biochar materials and highlights opportunities for innovation that can address pressing global challenges.”
The study offers a valuable reference for scientists, engineers and policy makers working to advance sustainable technologies that convert waste into high performance functional materials.
===
Journal Reference: Zhao, J., Jiang, Y., Chen, X. et al. Unlocking the potential of element-doped biochar: from tailored synthesis to multifunctional applications in environment and energy. Biochar 7, 77 (2025).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00467-x
===
About Biochar
Biochar is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field.