Potassium-ion
batteries (KIBs) have aroused enormous interest for
future energy storage technology. However, the current anodes for
KIBs greatly suffer from the rapid capacity fading and inferior rate
capability. Herein, a free-standing flexible anode, that is, nitrogen-doped
carbon nanotube paper (NCTP), which is derived from the pyrolysis
of organic polypyrrole materials, is demonstrated for high-performance
potassium storage. The correlations between the material structure
and electrochemical properties have been investigated by a series
of material analysis and characterizations, as well as electrochemical
tests. The research results show that the annealing temperature dramatically
affects the N-doping content, the carbon defects, and the graphitization
degree. Electrochemical tests indicate that the NCTP annealed at 700
°C displays the best performances with a high reversible capacity
of 250.1 mA h g–1 at 100 mA g–1 and superior rate capability retaining 133 mA h g–1 at 5 A g–1. The excellent electrochemical properties
are derived from a synergic contribution from the moderate N-doping,
carbon defect, and high electronic conductivity of the materials.
The facile pyrolysis strategy and the appealing performances involved
in this work could provide some hints to manipulate high-performance
anode materials of KIBs.