Scientists map the “physical genome” of biochar to guide next generation carbon materials
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Unraveling the physical genome of biochar
view moreCredit: Yating Ji, Donald W. Kirk, Zaisheng Cai, , & Charles Q. Jia
Biochar, a carbon rich material made by heating biomass under low oxygen conditions, has long been known for its ability to store carbon in soils and improve environmental quality. Now, a new comprehensive review introduces a powerful way to understand and design biochar by mapping what the authors call its “physical genome”, a framework that links biochar’s internal structure to how it performs across a wide range of applications
Published online on January 29, 2026, the review brings together decades of research on biochar’s physical properties, including porosity, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, electrical behavior, and optical response. Rather than treating these properties in isolation, the authors show how they are tightly connected through biochar’s multiscale carbon architecture, from atomic scale bonding to microscopic pores and macroscopic performance.
“Biochar is not just a simple soil amendment or adsorbent,” said one of the corresponding authors. “It is a multifunctional carbon material whose behavior depends on how its structure is built and how different physical traits interact with each other.”
At the heart of the review is the concept of a physical genome, inspired by ideas from materials informatics and systems design. In this framework, features such as graphitic domains, pore connectivity, defect density, and heteroatom distribution act like inheritable building blocks. These building blocks are shaped by feedstock choice, pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, and activation methods, and together determine how biochar conducts heat and electricity, resists mechanical stress, absorbs light, and interacts with chemicals.
The authors explain that biochar’s hierarchical pore structure is a key driver of its versatility. Micropores provide enormous surface area for adsorption and energy storage, mesopores enable mass transport, and macropores contribute mechanical stability. At the same time, the degree of carbon ordering influences both electrical and thermal transport, while also affecting long term stability in environmental settings.
Importantly, the review highlights that many of biochar’s most valuable traits arise from cross property synergies. For example, graphitic carbon networks can support electron transport while also reinforcing mechanical strength. Meanwhile, porous architectures can suppress heat flow, making biochar an effective thermal insulator, without necessarily eliminating electrical conductivity. These coupled behaviors help explain why biochar can function in such diverse roles, from supercapacitor electrodes and electromagnetic shielding materials to photothermal systems and environmental sensors.
Despite rapid progress, the authors also point out major knowledge gaps. Most existing studies focus on one or two properties at a time, often using different feedstocks and processing conditions. This fragmentation makes it difficult to establish predictive relationships that could guide material design. The physical genome framework is proposed as a way to unify these scattered findings and encourage future studies that measure multiple properties within the same biochar system.
Looking ahead, the review outlines pathways toward precision engineered biochar. By combining controlled synthesis, advanced characterization, and data driven modeling, researchers could design biochar with properties tailored for specific high value applications, including energy storage, solar driven water evaporation, environmental remediation, and low carbon construction materials.
“Understanding biochar through its physical genome allows us to move from trial and error toward rational design,” the authors said. “This approach could transform biochar from a largely empirical material into a predictable and customizable platform for sustainable technologies.”
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Journal reference: Ji Y, Kirk DW, Cai Z, Jia CQ. 2026. Unraveling the physical genome of biochar. Biochar X 2: e003 doi: 10.48130/bchax-0026-0003
https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/bchax-0026-0003
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About the Journal:
Biochar X (e-ISSN: 3070-1686) is an open access, online-only journal aims to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries by providing a multidisciplinary platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research in both fundamental and applied aspects of biochar. The journal is dedicated to supporting the global biochar research community by offering an innovative, efficient, and professional outlet for sharing new findings and perspectives. Its core focus lies in the discovery of novel insights and the development of emerging applications in the rapidly growing field of biochar science.
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Method of Research
Literature review
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Unraveling the physical genome of biochar
Article Publication Date
29-Jan-2026
Waste neem seeds become high-performance heat batteries for clean energy storage
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Temperature-modulated surface features of neem seed biochar for sustainable thermal energy storage applications
view moreCredit: Soumen Mandal, Avinash C. Mendhe, Taejoon Park & Han Seung Lee
As renewable energy expands worldwide, one challenge remains stubbornly unresolved: how to store heat efficiently and sustainably when the sun is not shining or demand fluctuates. A new study shows that agricultural waste, specifically discarded neem seeds, can be transformed into a powerful and environmentally friendly thermal energy storage material.
Researchers have developed a biochar based phase change material that can capture, store, and release heat with high efficiency while also locking carbon away. The work demonstrates how the temperature used to produce biochar strongly controls its ability to store thermal energy, offering a new pathway for low cost and carbon negative energy storage technologies.
The team converted neem seed waste into biochar by heating it under low oxygen conditions at two different temperatures, 300 and 500 degrees Celsius. The resulting porous carbon material was then infused with lauric acid, a fatty acid commonly used in thermal energy storage. This combination creates a shape stabilized phase change material that can absorb heat as it melts and release heat as it solidifies, without leaking.
“Our goal was to turn an underused biomass waste into something that directly supports clean energy systems,” said one of the corresponding authors. “By carefully tuning the biochar production temperature, we were able to dramatically improve how much heat the material can store and how stable it remains over time.”
The difference between the two biochars was striking. Biochar produced at 500 degrees Celsius developed an exceptionally high internal surface area, more than 600 square meters per gram. This sponge like structure allowed much more lauric acid to be held securely inside the pores. As a result, the high temperature biochar composite stored nearly twice as much latent heat as the material made from lower temperature biochar.
Laboratory tests showed that the optimized composite could store almost 95 joules of heat per gram, while maintaining stable melting and solidification behavior over hundreds of heating and cooling cycles. Importantly, leakage tests confirmed that the phase change material remained locked inside the biochar matrix even when heated above its melting point.
“This kind of stability is essential for real world applications,” the researchers noted. “Thermal energy storage materials must perform reliably for years without degrading or leaking, especially in buildings, solar energy systems, and industrial heat recovery.”
Beyond performance, sustainability is a central advantage of this approach. Neem seeds are widely available agricultural residues in many tropical regions and are often discarded after oil extraction. Converting them into biochar not only adds value to waste biomass but also sequesters carbon that would otherwise return to the atmosphere.
Unlike conventional energy storage technologies that rely on mined materials or complex manufacturing, biochar based thermal storage can be produced at relatively low cost using locally available feedstocks. This makes it especially attractive for decentralized energy systems and regions seeking affordable clean energy solutions.
The researchers emphasize that their findings highlight the importance of controlling biochar production conditions to tailor materials for specific energy applications. With further development, biochar based phase change materials could play a key role in improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
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Journal Reference: Mandal, S., Mendhe, A.C., Park, T. et al. Temperature-modulated surface features of neem seed biochar for sustainable thermal energy storage applications. Biochar 8, 9 (2026).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00510-x
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About Biochar
Biochar (e-ISSN: 2524-7867) 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.
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Journal
Biochar
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Temperature-modulated surface features of neem seed biochar for sustainable thermal energy storage applications
Article Publication Date
31-Jan-2026
