Coal tar pitch-derived porous carbon with in-situ cobalt loading catalyzes the growth of carbon nanotubes as an anode to enhance lithium storage performance

Abstract

In this study, a straightforward carbonization technique was utilized to facilitate the in-situ growth of uniformly dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on porous carbon derived from coal tar pitch. This process yielded a three-dimensional layered composite (ACTP/CNTs) characterized by an exceptionally high specific surface area. The specific surface area of the composite reached 2435.5 m²/g, representing a 42.92 % increase compared to that of the original porous carbon. This three-dimensional structure synergistically combines the excellent lithium-ion storage and transport properties of porous carbon with the excellent electrical conductivity of CNTs. As a result, the ACTP/CNTs demonstrate outstanding electrochemical performance, achieving a high charge capacity of 858.2 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g, and maintaining a stable capacity of 620.1 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at 2 A/g. Full-cell tests further highlight the potential of ACTP/CNTs as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Our synthetic strategy provides a valuable approach for designing carbon composites and shows great promise for developing high-performance and cost-effective carbon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.