Lignin, being the most abundant renewable aromatic biopolymer, is a promising phenolic polymer precursor that has the potential to be used as a substitute for toxic raw materials commonly used for the fabrication of organic aerogels or as a precursor for the synthesis of biobased aerogel. Nevertheless, challenges linked to handling lignin, including its complex and undefined structure, have delayed the targeted utilization of its functionalities. Furthermore, the diverse sources and types of lignin can exhibit different molecular structures and contribute to the unpredictability and limited comprehension of its behaviour.
In the context of my research, I focus on unravelling the underlying properties that govern lignin's behaviour when integrated into aerogels through conventional formulations, either as an additive (Approach 1) or as a precursor (Approach 2). The understanding of the different governing parameters in the two different approaches whether it is particle morphology, reactivity, or lignin-solvent interaction, allows better-designed and targeted use of lignin’s functionalities in the different approaches. Furthermore, I explore a relatively novel method involving the utilization of lignin as a coating material of biopolymer aerogels (Approach 3) during the sol-gel process. This approach focuses on investigating lignin coating through layer-by-layer assembly via hydrogen bonding, with the aim of tailoring the lignin layer build-up and its final properties.
