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.
