Effect of Different Nitrogen Configurations on Sodium Storage Properties of Carbon Anodes for Sodium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Nitrogen doping carbon materials are considered to be promising candidates for Na+ storage anodes. However, hitherto, the effects and mechanism of specific single N configuration (among pyrrolic N, quaternary N, and pyridinic N), on the sodium storage behaviors of carbon materials, are still puzzling, owing to the difficulties in accurately synthesizing a certain type of single N configuration dominated carbon materials (NCDCMs). Here, various NCDCMs have been successfully controlled and synthesized by small molecule polymerization methods, and their synthesis process has been also verified by NMR, MOLDI-TOF, TG-MS, etc. When serving as sodium ion battery anodes, the NCDCMs dominated by a high concentration of pyrrolic N (>80.3%) exhibits a satisfactory reversible capacity (434.5 mA h g–1 at 50 mA g–1 and 146.7 mA h g–1 at 2000 mA g–1, respectively). It is revealed that pyrrolic N has more suitable adsorption energy and larger interlayer spacing, by density functional theory calculations and electron orbital theory, respectively, which synergistically makes the material obtain excellent electrochemical performance. This research exhibits a more efficient way to reveal the differences in the sodium ions storage behavior of different nitrogen configurations doped carbon, and provides new insight for the precise design and synthesis of a certain type of heteroatom doping to achieve satisfactory electrochemical performance.

Sulfur Encapsulation and Sulfur Doping Synergistically Enhance Sodium Ion Storage in Microporous Carbon Anodes

“…Additionally, the addition of N-5 will result in rich active sites in the carbon material itself compared to N-6 and N-Q. This will facilitate the adsorption of sodium ions and boost the material’s capacity to store sodium . The S 2p spectrum in Figure c is divided into four peaks, which are located at 162.7, 164.0, 166.9, and 167.8 eV, respectively.…”

Ether-based electrolytes for sodium ion batteries

“…Dahn et al 185 first discovered the excellent properties of hard carbon for sodium storage, and then the interest by scientists increased. In the subsequent research, biomass hard carbon, 186,187 heteroatom doping, [188][189][190][191] and architectural design methods 192,193 were adopted to improve the electrochemical sodium storage performance of hard carbon. Although hard carbon is regarded as one of the most promising anodes for sodium ion batteries, its sodium storage mechanism still remains controversial.…”

Advances in Carbon Materials for Sodium and Potassium Storage

“…The pyrrolic‐N and pyridinic‐N could be gradually transformed into graphite‐N at high temperatures. [ 408 ] Therefore, controlling temperature is a simple yet efficient way to regulate N‐binding types and further understand doping effects on electrochemical performances.…”