Rubber-based carbon electrode materials derived from dumped tires for efficient sodium-ion storage

• Published in: Dalton transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry Vol. 47; no. 14; pp. 4885 - 4892
• Main Authors: Wu, Zhen-Yue, Ma, Chao, Bai, Yu-Lin, Liu, Yu-Si, Wang, Shi-Feng, Wei, Xiao, Wang, Kai-Xue, Chen, Jie-Sheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 2018
• Subjects: Anodes; Carbon; Composite materials; Electrochemical analysis; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Energy storage; Ion storage; Lithium; Low cost; Nanoparticles; Pyrolysis; Rechargeable batteries; Rubber; Sodium-ion batteries; Sustainable development; Tires
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/c8dt00504d

The development of sustainable and low cost electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries has attracted considerable attention. In this work, a carbon composite material decorated with in situ generated ZnS nanoparticles has been prepared via a simple pyrolysis of the rubber powder from dumped tires. Upon being used as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries, the carbon composite shows a high reversible capacity and rate capability. A capacity as high as 267 mA h g −1 is still retained after 100 cycles at a current density of 50 mA g −1 . The well dispersed ZnS nanoparticles in carbon significantly enhance the electrochemical performance. The carbon composites derived from the rubber powder are proposed as promising electrode materials for low-cost, large-scale energy storage devices. This work provides a new and effective method for the reuse of dumped tires, contributing to the recycling of valuable waste resources. A carbon composite decorated with in situ generated ZnS nanoparticles has been prepared via a simple pyrolysis of the rubber powder from dumped tires. Upon being used as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries, the carbon composite shows high electrochemical performance.