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Processing lignin into super-hydrophilic graphite by room-temperature chemical carbonization. [Display omitted] • Room-temperature carbonization has cost-effective and eco-friendly features. • Room-temperature carbonization afforded an 87% graphite yield. • Lignin-derived graphite has super-hydrophilicity. • Graphite-encapsulated liquid metal patterns have superb conductivity of 4.9 × 106 S/m. A cost-effective, and low-energy room-temperature cascade catalytic carbonization strategy is demonstrated for converting lignin into graphite with a high yield of 87 %, a high surface potential of −37 eV and super-hydrophilicity. This super-hydrophilic feature endows the lignin-derived graphite to be dispersed in a variety of polar solvents, which is important for its future applications. Encapsulating of liquid metals with the graphite for electrical circuit patterning on flexible substrates is also advocated. These written patterns show superb conductivity of 4.9 × 106 S/m, offering good performance stability and reliability while being repeatedly stretched, folded, twisted, and bent. This will offer new designs for flexible electronic devices, sensors, and biomedical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]