*SANA'A – Media Office, Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment – Sana'a University*

*Thursday, October 22, 2026*

In a research achievement demonstrating the integration of agricultural sciences, materials science, and modern energy technologies, three researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at Sana'a University participated in an international specialized scientific study to develop flexible and sustainable carbon nanofibers suitable for use as supercapacitor electrodes for energy storage. The study utilizes lignin extracted from corn stalks as a renewable source to produce high-value advanced carbon materials.
The Sana'a University research team included Dr. Massoud Al-Mujarasha, Dr. Hesham Abdo Ahmed, and Dr. Amer Ali Mahdi, alongside an international research team comprising researchers from universities and research institutions in China and Yemen. The study was published in the international journal Materials Research Bulletin, published by Elsevier, within Volume 203 for the year 2026, Article No. 114223 (DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2026.114223).
The study focused on developing a sustainable method for producing carbon nanofibers from lignin—a primary component of plant biomass—extracted from corn stalks. The researchers aimed to optimize the structural and physical properties of the precursor material, enhancing its spinnability into uniform and flexible fibers with high efficiency for energy storage applications.
The study addressed a key technical challenge associated with using lignin in carbon fiber production: molecular weight heterogeneity and its subsequent impact on spinnability and fiber uniformity. To resolve this issue, the team developed a scientific strategy combining molecular weight-based lignin fractionation with mild chemical modification, followed by polymer blending and electrospinning. The resulting fibers were then subjected to thermal treatment to yield carbon fibers with enhanced properties.
The significance of this methodology lies in enabling the utilization of renewable and low-cost plant materials to manufacture advanced technical components, supporting research trends aimed at maximizing the benefit of natural resources and agricultural waste in industrial applications and sustainable energy.
The study results showed an improvement in the structural uniformity and properties of the carbon fibers. The sample prepared at 800 °C, designated as (CF1–800), demonstrated the best performance among the tested samples, achieving a specific capacitance of 273 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g.
Furthermore, the resulting fibers exhibited remarkable mechanical flexibility, bending up to 180 degrees without breaking. This enhances their potential for use in energy storage applications that require flexible materials adaptable to various structural designs.
When incorporating the developed material into a symmetric supercapacitor, the specific capacitance reached approximately 122.6 F/g, while the energy density reached approximately 24.5 Wh/kg at a power density of 575.6 W/kg. These results highlight the technical potential of lignin-derived carbon fibers in electrochemical energy storage applications.
The study derives its importance from presenting a research pathway to utilize lignin derived from corn stalks in producing carbon nano-electrodes with enhanced properties. This opens new horizons for leveraging plant biomass to develop advanced materials and enhances the added value of agricultural resources by connecting them to modern technical applications.
The study also reflects the importance of multidisciplinary research in delivering scientific solutions that combine high performance with environmental sustainability. It underscores the role academic and research institutions play in developing innovative technologies that utilize renewable resources and promote the optimal use of agricultural waste.
The contribution of the researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at Sana'a University to this international scientific work represents a strong presence for Yemeni agricultural research in advanced fields beyond traditional agricultural applications. By bridging agricultural sciences with materials and energy technologies, this achievement strengthens international scientific collaboration opportunities and opens new avenues for Yemeni researchers to contribute to the development of vital future technical solutions.
Read the full study:
​https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025540826002345?via%3Dihub

*Summary:*
Three researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at Sana'a University participated in an international scientific study to develop flexible, sustainable carbon nanofibers from lignin extracted from corn stalks for use as supercapacitor electrodes in energy storage.​