Sustainable Fabrication of a Practical Hard Carbon Anode for a Sodium-Ion Battery with Unprecedented Long Cycle Life

Abstract

Boosting the application of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) requires the development of economical and high-performance anode materials. Here, we report a low-cost, environmentally friendly, and scalable preparation method to prepare hard carbon (HC) from a corn starch precursor by bioenzymatic action. This strategy can effectively inhibit the serious foaming of starch during pretreatment and make the internal microstructure of HC have a larger interlayer distance, a more disordered structure, and higher CO content. As an anode for SIB, the enzymatic-assisted synthesis of HC has a high reversible capacity of 346 mAh·g–1, an initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of up to 91%, and a remarkably enhanced sodium-ion transport kinetics of 271 mAh·g–1 at 5C. Moreover, it displays extremely high retention of 92% after 2500 cycles at 1C and 93% after 6500 cycles at 3C. Such HC reaches all of the performance indicators for anode materials as well as a low surface area, demonstrating the advancement of this synthetic strategy in fabricating practical HC. In addition, the full-cell, by coupling with a Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) cathode, delivers a high capacity of 323 mAh·g–1 at 1C from the anode side, an outstanding rate capability of 313 mAh·g–1 at 5C, and good cycling performance. These satisfactory electrochemical properties, combined with renewable resources and scalable synthesis routes, enable the present HC to become a practical SIB anode.

Green Large-Scale Preparation of Na3V2(PO4)3 with Good Rate Capability and Long Cycling Lifespan for Sodium-Ion Batteries

“…In recent years, considerable focus has been directed toward the development of sustainable devices for energy storage to meet the substantial energy requirements of modern civilization. While fossil fuels are convenient for energy storage, they unfortunately lead to environmental pollution. − To achieve sustainable development and foster a “green” environment, it is necessary to establish an efficient and low-energy loss energy storage system. , Presently, the utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has become prevalent in various mobile devices and portable electronics due to their environmentally friendly nature, high energy density, commendable safety performance, as well as being a novel form of energy storage device. − However, lithium resources are severely limited with uneven distribution, which hinders their additional utilization in large-scale energy storage fields. − Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), which possess similar properties and storage mechanisms as LIBs but offer desirable characteristics such as superior safety performance, cost-efficiency, and abundant sodium resources, have attracted more attention recently. − The performance of SIBs is significantly affected by the cathode material; therefore, to focus research endeavors on the advancement of cathode materials with exceptional performance for SIBs is particularly important. − …”

“…1−3 To achieve sustainable development and foster a "green" environment, it is necessary to establish an efficient and low-energy loss energy storage system. 4,5 Presently, the utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has become prevalent in various mobile devices and portable electronics due to their environmentally friendly nature, high energy density, commendable safety performance, as well as being a novel form of energy storage device. 6−8 However, lithium resources are severely limited with uneven distribution, which hinders their additional utilization in largescale energy storage fields.…”

Heterostructured Mn–Sn Bimetallic Sulfide Nanocubes Confined in N, S-co-Doped Carbon Framework as High-Performance Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries

“…12,13 Especially, the cheap price, abundant reserves, and homogeneous distribution of raw materials endow SIBs with abundant interest and attention. 14,15 Importantly, the mature manufacturing crafts of commercial LIBs can directly serve as a guide for the manufacturers of SIBs. Unfortunately, compared to Li + ions, Na + ions possess a bigger ionic radius, which endows the commercial graphite anodes in LIBs no longer suitable for SIBs, leading to a low capacity (35 mAh g −1 ) and sluggish insertion/extraction reaction kinetics.…”

“…As a first choice of power supply components, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have spread their wide applications in pure electrical vehicles, microelectronics, portable equipments, backup powers, and so on. − However, the concerns about the limited terrestrial reserves and high prices of the raw materials seriously hamper their practical prospects for low-cost energy storage systems (ESSs). − Therefore, the exploration of next-generation revolutionary ESSs with high energy storage capacity, high safety, and environmental friendliness has become an urgent mission to sustain the continuation of human society. − Recently, a feasible solution has been proposed to eliminate the abovementioned concerns, which is supported by developing sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) as primary candidates for LIBs. Moreover, metal Na possesses similar physicochemical properties to metal Li. , Especially, the cheap price, abundant reserves, and homogeneous distribution of raw materials endow SIBs with abundant interest and attention. , Importantly, the mature manufacturing crafts of commercial LIBs can directly serve as a guide for the manufacturers of SIBs. Unfortunately, compared to Li + ions, Na + ions possess a bigger ionic radius, which endows the commercial graphite anodes in LIBs no longer suitable for SIBs, leading to a low capacity (35 mAh g –1 ) and sluggish insertion/extraction reaction kinetics. , Hence, exploring suitable sodium-storage anode materials has been the priority for the development of high-performance SIBs.…”