Hierarchically porous nitrogen-rich carbon derived from wheat straw as an ultra-high-rate anode for lithium ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 2; no. 25; pp. 9684 - 9690
• Main Authors: Chen, Li, Zhang, Yongzhi, Lin, Chaohong, Yang, Wen, Meng, Yan, Guo, Yong, Li, Menglong, Xiao, Dan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Anodes; Carbon; Density; lithium batteries; Lithium-ion batteries; nitrogen content; potassium hydroxide; Straw; Sustainability; Walls; Wheat; wheat straw
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/C4TA00501E

A facile, economical and effective method to produce hierarchically porous nitrogen-rich carbon (HPNC) from wheat straw has been reported. Acid pretreatment is introduced before KOH activation, and plays the role of promoting the formation of thinner pore walls. Without any N-doping, the N content is as high as 5.13%. The HPNC when used as an anode for Li-ion batteries exhibits a superior specific capacity of 1470 mA h g −1 at 0.037 A g −1 , and possesses an ultrahigh rate capability of 344 mA h g −1 at 18.5 A g −1 . Even at an extremely high current density of 37 A g −1 , the reversible capacity is still as high as 198 mA h g −1 .