Lithium storage in nitrogen-rich mesoporous carbon materials

• Published in: Energy & environmental science Vol. 5; no. 7; pp. 795 - 7955
• Main Authors: Mao, Ya, Duan, Hui, Xu, Bin, Zhang, Lin, Hu, Yongsheng, Zhao, Changchun, Wang, Zhaoxiang, Chen, Liquan, Yang, Yusheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Carbon; Discharge; Doping; Lithium; Nanostructure; Specific surface; Spectroscopic analysis; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1754-5692; 1754-5706
• DOI: 10.1039/c2ee21817h

Nitrogen-rich mesoporous carbon materials were obtained by pyrolyzing gelatin between 700 and 900 °C with a nano-CaCO 3 template. The mesoporous structure and the high nitrogen content endowed these materials with reversible capacities up to ca. 1200 mA h g −1 . The high specific surface area and the nitrogen doping are responsible for the capacity loss in the initial cycle. FTIR and XPS studies indicate that the nitrogen in the material exists in the form of pyridinic, pyrrolic/pyridonic and graphitic nitrogen. The Raman spectroscopic analysis indicates that the structure of the mesoporous carbon becomes more disordered during discharge and is restored during recharge, a behavior similar to that in nitrogen-free hard carbon materials. The reversible structural variation of these carbon materials ensures their high cyclic reversibility. Nitrogen-rich mesoporous carbon from pyrolyzed gelatin is a promising electrode material for high-performance lithium ion batteries and other devices.