Nanodiamond-assisted synthesis of microporous carbon sphere as a composite anode for promoting the performances of lithium-ion battery

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have revolutionized the field of energy storage due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and environmental friendliness. One crucial factor that determines the performance of LIBs is the choice of anode materials, especially those with high cost-effectiveness, electrochemical performances, and cyclic stability. In this work, the attention towards utilizing biomass-derived carbon materials as potential candidates for anodes, and chestnut shell-derived porous carbon sphere embedded with Nanodiamond (ND) named CPCS-ND is prepared, realizing exceptional capacity and cycle stability (625 mA h g^-1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C and 254 mA h g^-1 after 3000 cycles at 5 C (1 C∼372 mA g^-1)) as anode material in LIBs. It is experimentally demonstrated that the outstanding electrochemical performances are attributed to the unique microporous spherical structure of CPCS-ND, which is helpful for the improvements in the diffusion and storage of Li-ions and providing a sufficient surface for effective electrode/electrolyte interactions. Meanwhile, the introduced NDs with high Li-ion adsorption increases the pseudocapacitance of the anode materials. This work highlights the importance of the structural design of biochar, which not only offers new possibilities for sustainable and eco-friendly battery technologies, but also opens up avenues for utilizing agricultural waste products effectively.