According to a report by The Yomiuri Newspaper on July 22, in order to reduce its high dependence on Chinese graphite, Japanese research institutions are hoping to use pine resin as a substitute for traditional raw materials in the production of graphite, thereby achieving a 'stable supply' of graphite.
Reports indicate that graphite is widely used in the manufacturing of semiconductors and lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, making it an indispensable material for cutting-edge industries. Data shows that about 90% of Japan’s imports of natural and synthetic graphite come from China. In recent years, due to China’s export controls, the stability of graphite procurement channels has decreased, making it an urgent issue to diversify the sources and types of raw materials.
Artificial graphite has traditionally been produced from materials derived from petroleum and coal. Although there have been attempts to produce graphite using charcoal, the resulting carbon structures are chaotic, making it difficult to obtain graphite with regular crystal structures.
AIST published a paper in Nature Communications this month. The research team focused on the structured rosin acids in pine resin and successfully synthesized graphite precursors through processes such as deoxidation. Experimental data shows that about 8 grams of graphite can be produced from every 100 grams of pine resin.
The paper states that researchers have applied graphite made from pine resin to lithium-ion batteries, verifying that the material can successfully undergo charge and discharge cycles. Currently, there are still challenges to be overcome in terms of economic benefits and material performance for this method. However, it is expected to be extended to more applications such as carbon fibers in the future.
This is not the first time that Japan has relied on pine trees to solve resource problems.
In the later stages of the Pacific War, the US military cut off Japan's oil transportation routes from Southeast Asia. As a result, Japan was facing a severe oil shortage. There was no oil available for fighter planes and ships, and military production was nearly halted. Facing this desperate situation, the Japanese general headquarters launched the "Matsune Oil Campaign," claiming that it was possible to extract fuel from matsune trees that could replace aviation gasoline. They declared, "Using millions of matsune trees, we will support the decisive battle at home."
But in fact, Minze oil has an extremely low octane rating and simply cannot meet the standards for aviation fuel. By the time Japan surrendered, this vigorous national movement had only produced Minze oil that was unusable for aircraft.
