Microcrystalline Hybridization Enhanced Coal‐Based Carbon Anode for Advanced Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are regarded as a kind of promising candidate for large-scale energy storage technology. The development of advanced carbon anodes with high Na-storage capacity and initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) from low cost, resources abundant precursors is critical for SIBs. Here, a carbon microcrystalline hybridization route to synthesize hard carbons with extensive pseudo-graphitic regions from lignite coal with the assistance of sucrose is proposed. Employing the cross-linked interaction between sucrose and lignite coal to generate carbon-based hybrid microcrystalline states, the obtained hard carbons possess pseudo-graphitic dominant phases with large interlayer spaces that facilitate Na ion's storage and transportation, as well as fewer surface defects that guarantee high ICE. The LCS-73 with an optimum cross-link demonstrates the highest Na-storage capacity of 356 mAh g −1 and an ICE of 82.9%. The corresponding full-cell delivers a high energy density of 240 Wh kg −1 (based on the mass of anode and cathode materials) and excellent rate capability of 106 mAh g −1 at 10 C in addition to outstanding cycle performance with 80% retention over 500 cycles at 2 C. The proposed work offers an efficient route to develop high-performance, low-cost carbon-based anode materials with potential application for advanced SIBs.

Dual‐Interfering Chemistry for Soft‐Hard Carbon Translation toward Fast and Durable Sodium Storage

“…Graphite is a widely used commercial anode in LIBs, [ 2a–c ] but is impractical for use in SIBs due to its small interlayer spacings and inability to generate stable Na‐C intercalation compounds. [ 3 ] Fortunately, disordered carbonaceous materials with randomly oriented graphitic layers and tunable microstructures have shown great commercialization prospects for SIBs. [ 4a,b ]…”

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for use in SIBs due to its small interlayer spacings and inability to generate stable Na-C intercalation compounds. [3] Fortunately, disordered carbonaceous materials with randomly oriented graphitic layers and tunable microstructures have shown great commercialization prospects for SIBs. [4a,b] The electrochemical properties of disordered carbonaceous materials are highly dependent on their microstructures.

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Microstructure regulation of resin-based hard carbons via esterification cross-linking for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

“…16,17 Fortunately, amorphous carbons with a disordered crystalline structure and a larger interlayer distance show superior Na-storage performance with potential application prospects towards practical SIBs. 18,19…”

“…16,17 Fortunately, amorphous carbons with a disordered crystalline structure and a larger interlayer distance show superior Na-storage performance with potential application prospects towards practical SIBs. 18,19 As an important chemical raw material, phenolic resin has been extensively employed as the precursor of hard carbon owing to its high carbon content, established synthesis method, and low cost. 20,21 The phenolic resin, during the heat treatment process, initially reaches a molten state, which then progressively shrinks and becomes brittle, followed by serious foaming.…”

Interfacial covalent bonding of the MXene-stabilized Sb2Se3nanotube hybrid with fast ion transport for enhanced sodium-ion half/full batteries

“…5–9 Therefore, finding suitable anode materials for SIBs is the key to their early commercial application. 10,11 Among many anode materials, VI A main group metal compounds based on a multi-electron conversion reaction mechanism possess the advantages of low cost, easy control over the morphology, and a high theoretical specific capacity. Therefore, they have been widely investigated as SIBs anode materials.…”