A team of researchers at UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are investigating if lignin—a low-cost byproduct of the pulp, paper, and biofuels industries—could be useful as a battery anode, potentially improving upon graphitic materials found in most lithium-ion batteries. Initial testing of the lignin-derived battery showed promising results in terms of capacity and cycling stability, but the researchers wanted to understand how and why the material behaved so differently from other graphites. ORNL’s Orlando Rios began collaborating with the UT’s Computational Materials Group, led by David Keffer, to further examine the fibers’ structure and behavior. To read about their work, visit the ORNL website.