Laser Irradiation of a Bio-Waste Derived Carbon Unlocks Performance Enhancement in Secondary Lithium Batteries

Abstract

Pyrolyzed carbons from bio-waste sources are renewable nanomaterials for sustainable negative electrodes in Li- and Na-ion batteries. Here, carbon derived from a hazelnut shell has been obtained by hydrothermal processing of the bio-waste followed by thermal treatments and laser irradiation in liquid. A non-focused nanosecond pulsed laser source has been used to irradiate pyrolyzed carbon particles suspended in acetonitrile to modify the surface and morphology. Morphological, structural, and compositional changes have been investigated by microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction to compare the materials properties after thermal treatments as well as before and after the irradiation. Laser irradiation in acetonitrile induces remarkable alteration in the nanomorphology, increase in the surface area and nitrogen enrichment of the carbon surfaces. These materials alterations are beneficial for the electrochemical performance in lithium half cells as proved by galvanostatic cycling at room temperature.

Outstanding Compatibility of Hard‐Carbon Anodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries in Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

“…In fact, several electrolytes were investigated in other works, [8,58,59] based on PC and/or ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC) solvents, etc., in combination with NaClO 4 , NaTFSI or NaPF 6 as sodium salts, which show values of reversible capacity close to those reported for the[N1114][FSI]‐cell but with significant capacity fading upon cycling and higher initial irreversible capacity, demonstrating that the choice of the electrolyte plays a key role for good battery performances. Other innovative and efficient approaches were evaluated to boost the rate performances and the specific capacity of hard carbon anodes, such as doping with heteroatoms (i. e., pyridinic N and thiophene S) through different techniques, [60,61] which allowed to enhance the sodium storage capacity. So, different strategies can be followed to raise the efficiency of hard carbon as anode, improving its structure and/or designing suitable electrolytes.…”

The ENEA′s 2019–2021 Three‐Year Research Project on Electrochemical Energy Storage

“…Carbon derived from hazelnut shell has been obtained by hydrothermal processing of the bio‐waste followed by thermal treatments and laser irradiation in liquid. When used as the anode of a LIB cell, the irradiated material showed a high specific capacity (1108, 682 and 578 mAhg −1 at cycles 1, 10 and 20, respectively), good capacity retention (52 % at cycle 20 in respect to cycle 1), and relatively high first cycle Coulombic efficiency (56 %) [30] …”

“…When used as the anode of a LIB cell, the irradiated material showed a high specific capacity (1108, 682 and 578 mAhg À 1 at cycles 1, 10 and 20, respectively), good capacity retention (52 % at cycle 20 in respect to cycle 1), and relatively high first cycle Coulombic efficiency (56 %). [30] Furthermore, components of vegetable origin were tested as a binder [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] for both LIBs and SIBs. The use of pullulan as a binder was first demonstrated in a supercapacitor with carbon electrodes obtained from pepper-seeds waste [31,32] and then in a lithium metal battery using a LNMO-based cathode.…”

Sustainable Manufacturing of Graphitic Carbon from Bio‐Waste Using Flash Heating for Anode Material of Lithium‐Ion Batteries with Optimal Performance

“…[13] Hazelnut shell treated hydrothermally followed by thermal treatment and laser irradiation in liquid has been utilized to generate carbon with beneficial electrochemical properties. [14] Some more biowastes from food and agriculture industry that have been employed to yield carbon materials include banana fibers, [15] wheat stalk, [16] rice husk, [17] corn leaves, [18] etc. The polymeric carbon framework is already available in these raw precursors.…”