Open AccessUltrafast synthesis of hard carbon anodes for sodium-ion batteries
Author(s) -
Yang Zhen,
Chen Yang,
Feng Li,
Zhenyu Guo,
Zhensheng Hong,
MariaMagdalena Titirici
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2111119118
Subject(s) - anode , materials science , pyrolysis , sintering , spark plasma sintering , faraday efficiency , carbon fibers , calcination , chemical engineering , alkali metal , porosity , energy storage , nanotechnology , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , composite number , catalysis , electrode , engineering , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Hard carbons (HCs) are a significantly promising anode material for alkali metal-ion batteries. However, long calcination time and much energy consumption are required for the traditional fabrication way, resulting in an obstacle for high-throughput synthesis and structure regulation of HCs. Herein, we report an emerging sintering method to rapidly fabricate HCs from different carbon precursors at an ultrafast heating rate (300 to 500 °C min -1 ) under one minute by a multifield-regulated spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology. HCs prepared via the SPS possess significantly fewer defects, lower porosity, and less oxygen content than those pyrolyzed in traditional sintering ways. The molecular dynamics simulations are employed to elucidate the mechanism of the remarkably accelerated pyrolysis from the quickly increased carbon sp 2 content under the multifield effect. As a proof of concept, the SPS-derived HC exhibits an improved initial Coulombic efficiency (88.9%), a larger reversible capacity (299.4 mAh⋅g -1 ), and remarkably enhanced rate capacities (136.6 mAh⋅g -1 at 5 A⋅g -1 ) than anode materials derived from a traditional route for Na-ion batteries.