Journal Home > Volume 17 , Issue 6
Nano Research 2024, 17(6): 5138-5147 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6429-4
Research Article | Issue | Published: 25 January 2024

Low-temperature-pyrolysis preparation of nanostructured graphite towards rapid potassium storage with high initial Coulombic efficiency

Show Author's Information Jingke Ren1,§,  Boyu Xing1,§,  Wen Luo2( ),  Binyang Luo1,  Xinfei Wu1,  Xin Yan2,  Wencong Feng1,  Feiyue Wang1,  Chaojie Cheng1,  Liqiang Mai1( )
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Department of Physics, School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

§ Jingke Ren and Boyu Xing contributed equally to this work.

Keywords:
potassium-ion batteries, initial Coulombic efficiency, graphite anode, high graphitization degree, low-temperature pyrolysis
Topics:
Ion batteries
Cite this article:
Ren J, Xing B, Luo W, et al. Low-temperature-pyrolysis preparation of nanostructured graphite towards rapid potassium storage with high initial Coulombic efficiency. Nano Research, 2024, 17(6): 5138-5147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6429-4
Download citation
EndNote(RIS)
BibTeX

394

Views

79

Downloads

Citations

0

Crossref

0

WoS

0

Scopus

0

CSCD

Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Industrially prepared artificial graphite (AG) is attractive for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), but its rate performance is poor and the production process is energy intensive, so developing an efficient strategy to produce novel graphite with low energy consumption and high performance is economically important. Herein, a nanostructured graphite composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphite shells was prepared by one-pot method through low-temperature pyrolysis of iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and carbon source. The high graphitization degree of nanostructured graphite makes the initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) exceed 80%, and the three-dimensional (3D) conductive network ensures a specific capacity of 234 mAh·g−1 after 1000 cycles at a high current density of 500 mA·g−1. In addition, the typical graphite potassium storage mechanism is also demonstrated by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ Raman spectroscopy, and its practicality is also proved by the voltage of the full cells. This work provides a feasible way to optimize the practical production process of AG and expand its application in energy storage.


menu
Abstract
Full text
Outline
Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Low-temperature-pyrolysis preparation of nanostructured graphite towards rapid potassium storage with high initial Coulombic efficiency

Show Author's information Jingke Ren1,§, Boyu Xing1,§, Wen Luo2( ), Binyang Luo1, Xinfei Wu1, Xin Yan2, Wencong Feng1, Feiyue Wang1, Chaojie Cheng1, Liqiang Mai1( )
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Department of Physics, School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

§ Jingke Ren and Boyu Xing contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Industrially prepared artificial graphite (AG) is attractive for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), but its rate performance is poor and the production process is energy intensive, so developing an efficient strategy to produce novel graphite with low energy consumption and high performance is economically important. Herein, a nanostructured graphite composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphite shells was prepared by one-pot method through low-temperature pyrolysis of iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and carbon source. The high graphitization degree of nanostructured graphite makes the initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) exceed 80%, and the three-dimensional (3D) conductive network ensures a specific capacity of 234 mAh·g−1 after 1000 cycles at a high current density of 500 mA·g−1. In addition, the typical graphite potassium storage mechanism is also demonstrated by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ Raman spectroscopy, and its practicality is also proved by the voltage of the full cells. This work provides a feasible way to optimize the practical production process of AG and expand its application in energy storage.

Keywords: potassium-ion batteries, initial Coulombic efficiency, graphite anode, high graphitization degree, low-temperature pyrolysis

References(56)

[1]

Fan, Q. Z.; Lin, L.; Jian, Z. L.; Liu, G. M.; Zhao, C. X.; Qi, Y. Y. Biomass-derived carbon fibers modified by Ag/rGO for high-performance Li metal composite anode. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 2023, 34, 25.
DOI Google Scholar
[2]

Li, G. L.; Wang, Y. T.; Guo, H.; Liu, Z. L.; Chen, P. H.; Zheng, X. Y.; Sun, J. L.; Chen, H.; Zheng, J.; Li, X. G. Direct plasma phosphorization of Cu foam for Li ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 2020, 8, 16920–16925.
DOI Google Scholar
[3]

Abdelmaoula, A. E.; Du, L. L.; Xu, L.; Cheng, Y.; Mahdy, A. A.; Tahir, M.; Liu, Z. A.; Mai, L. Biomimetic brain-like nanostructures for solid polymer electrolytes with fast ion transport. Sci. China Mater. 2022, 65, 1476–1484.
DOI Google Scholar
[4]

Su, L.; Ren, J. K.; Lu, T.; Chen, K. X.; Ouyang, J. W.; Zhang, Y.; Zhu, X. Y.; Wang, L. Y.; Min, H. H.; Luo, W. et al. Deciphering structural origins of highly reversible lithium storage in high entropy oxides with in situ transmission electron microscopy. Adv. Mater. 2023, 35, 2205751.
DOI Google Scholar
[5]

Guerra, O. J. Beyond short-duration energy storage. Nat. Energy 2021, 6, 460–461.
DOI Google Scholar
[6]

Pomerantseva, E.; Bonaccorso, F.; Feng, X. L.; Cui, Y.; Gogotsi, Y. Energy storage: The future enabled by nanomaterials. Science 2019, 366, eaan8285.
DOI Google Scholar
[7]

Zhang, X.; Meng, J. S.; Wang, X. P.; Xiao, Z. T.; Wu, P. J.; Mai, L. Comprehensive insights into electrolytes and solid electrolyte interfaces in potassium-ion batteries. Energy Storage Mater. 2021, 38, 30–49.
DOI Google Scholar
[8]

Tarascon, J. M. Is lithium the new gold. Nat. Chem. 2010, 2, 510–510.
DOI Google Scholar
[9]

Komaba, S.; Hasegawa, T.; Dahbi, M.; Kubota, K. Potassium intercalation into graphite to realize high-voltage/high-power potassium-ion batteries and potassium-ion capacitors. Electrochem. Commun. 2015, 60, 172–175.
DOI Google Scholar
[10]

Hosaka, T.; Kubota, K.; Kojima, H.; Komaba, S. Highly concentrated electrolyte solutions for 4 V class potassium-ion batteries. Chem. Commun. 2018, 54, 8387–8390.
DOI Google Scholar
[11]

Asher, R. C.; Wilson, S. A. Lamellar compound of sodium with graphite. Nature 1958, 181, 409–410.
DOI Google Scholar
[12]

Ge, P.; Fouletier, M. Electrochemical intercalation of sodium in graphite. Solid State Ionics 1988, 28–30, 1172–1175
DOI Google Scholar
[13]

Wen, Y.; He, K.; Zhu, Y. J.; Han, F. D.; Xu, Y. H.; Matsuda, I.; Ishii, Y.; Cumings, J.; Wang, C. S. Expanded graphite as superior anode for sodium-ion batteries. Nat. Commun. 2014, 5, 4033.
DOI Google Scholar
[14]

Luo, W.; Li, F.; Zhang, W. R.; Han, K.; Gaumet, J. J.; Schaefer, H. E.; Mai, L. Encapsulating segment-like antimony nanorod in hollow carbon tube as long-lifespan, high-rate anodes for rechargeable K-ion batteries. Nano Res. 2019, 12, 1025–1031.
DOI Google Scholar
[15]

Wang, C. X.; Yu, R. H.; Luo, W.; Feng, W. C.; Shen, Y. H.; Xu, N.; Mai, L. Chemical cross-linking and mechanically reinforced carbon network constructed by graphene boosts potassium ion storage. Nano Res. 2022, 15, 9019–9025.
DOI Google Scholar
[16]

Feng, Y. H.; Rao, A. M.; Zhou, J.; Lu, B. A. Selective potassium deposition enables dendrite-resistant anodes for ultrastable potassium-metal batteries. Adv. Mater. 2023, 35, 2300886.
DOI Google Scholar
[17]

Hu, Y.; Tang, C.; Lv, F. T.; Du, A. J.; Wu, Z. S.; Zhang, H. J. K-functionalized carbon quantum dots-induced interface assembly of carbon nanocages for ultrastable potassium storage performance. Small Methods 2022, 6, 2101627.
DOI Google Scholar
[18]

Xiong, P. X.; Zhao, X. X.; Xu, Y. H. Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes derived from metal-organic frameworks for potassium-ion battery anodes. ChemSusChem 2018, 11, 202–208.
DOI Google Scholar
[19]

Wang, M.; Wang, Q. C.; Ding, X. Y.; Wang, Y. S.; Xin, Y. H.; Singh, P.; Wu, F.; Gao, H. C. The prospect and challenges of sodium-ion batteries for low-temperature conditions. Interdiscip. Mater. 2022, 1, 373–395.
DOI Google Scholar
[20]

Wang, H.; Liu, F.; Yu, R. H.; Wu, J. S. Unraveling the reaction mechanisms of electrode materials for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries by in situ transmission electron microscopy. Interdiscip. Mater. 2022, 1, 196–212.
DOI Google Scholar
[21]

Deng, L. Q.; Qu, J. L.; Niu, X. G.; Liu, J. Z.; Zhang, J.; Hong, Y. R.; Feng, M. Y.; Wang, J. W.; Hu, M.; Zeng, L. et al. Defect-free potassium manganese hexacyanoferrate cathode material for high-performance potassium-ion batteries. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 2167.
DOI Google Scholar
[22]

Bie, X. F.; Kubota, K.; Hosaka, T.; Chihara, K.; Komaba, S. A novel K-ion battery: Hexacyanoferrate(II)/graphite cell. J. Mater. Chem. A 2017, 5, 4325–4330.
DOI Google Scholar
[23]

Li, X. D.; Li, J. L.; Ma, L.; Yu, C. Y.; Ji, Z.; Pan, L. K.; Mai, W. Graphite anode for potassium ion batteries: Current status and perspective. Energy Environ. Mater. 2022, 5, 458–469.
DOI Google Scholar
[24]
Wall Street Crocodile. SOHU: Top 10 shipments of anode materials in China in 2023H1 (in Chinese) [Online]. https://www.sohu.com/a/715607072_121123888 (accessed Nov 1, 2023).
[25]

Kim, J. K.; Jung, D. S.; Lee, J. K.; Kang, Y. C. Less energy-intensive synthesis of mesoporous multi-oriented graphite microspheres with low defect concentration for advanced potassium-ion battery anodes. Chem. Eng. J. 2022, 443, 136545.
DOI Google Scholar
[26]

Lee, S. M.; Kang, D. S.; Roh, J. S. Bulk graphite: Materials and manufacturing process. Carbon Lett. 2015, 16, 135–146.
DOI Google Scholar
[27]

Choi, S. H.; Baucom, J.; Li, X. R.; Shen, L.; Seong, Y. H.; Han, I. S.; Choi, Y. J.; Ko, Y. N.; Kim, H. J.; Lu, Y. F. Porous carbon microspheres with highly graphitized structure for potassium-ion storage. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2020, 577, 48–53.
DOI Google Scholar
[28]

Shen, M. K.; Ding, H. B.; Fan, L.; Rao, A. M.; Zhou, J.; Lu, B. A. Neuromorphic carbon for fast and durable potassium storage. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 33, 2213362.
DOI Google Scholar
[29]

Tian, S.; Jiang, Q. T.; Cai, T. H.; Wang, Y. S.; Wang, D. D.; Kong, D. Q.; Ren, H.; Zhou, J.; Xing, W. Graphitized electrospun carbon fibers with superior cyclability as a free-standing anode of potassium-ion batteries. J. Power Sources 2020, 474, 228479.
DOI Google Scholar
[30]

Ma, X. M.; Fu, H. W.; Shen, J. Y.; Zhang, D. W.; Zhou, J. W.; Tong, C. Y.; Rao, A. M.; Zhou, J.; Fan, L.; Lu, B. A. Green ether electrolytes for sustainable high-voltage potassium ion batteries. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202312973.
DOI Google Scholar
[31]

Li, Z. Q.; Wen, J. Q.; Cai, Y. Q.; Lv, F. T.; Zeng, X.; Liu, Q.; Masese, T.; Zhang, C. X.; Yang, X. S.; Ma, Y. W. et al. Hydrated Bi-Ti-bimetal ethylene glycol: A new high-capacity and stable anode material for potassium-ion batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 33, 2300582.
DOI Google Scholar
[32]

Sun, D. G.; Tang, C.; Cheng, H.; Xu, W. L.; Du, A. J.; Zhang, H. J. Pumpkin-like MoP-MoS2@aspergillus niger spore-derived N-doped carbon heterostructure for enhanced potassium storage. J. Energy Chem. 2022, 72, 479–486.
DOI Google Scholar
[33]

He, T.; Kong, X. J.; Li, J. R. Chemically stable metal-organic frameworks: Rational construction and application expansion. Acc. Chem. Res. 2021, 54, 3083–3094.
DOI Google Scholar
[34]

Hunter, R. D.; Ramírez-Rico, J.; Schnepp, Z. Iron-catalyzed graphitization for the synthesis of nanostructured graphitic carbons. J. Mater. Chem. A 2022, 10, 4489–4516.
DOI Google Scholar
[35]

Luo, W.; Wan, J. Y.; Ozdemir, B.; Bao, W. Z.; Chen, Y. N.; Dai, J. Q.; Lin, H.; Xu, Y.; Gu, F.; Barone, V. et al. Potassium ion batteries with graphitic materials. Nano Lett. 2015, 15, 7671–7677.
DOI Google Scholar
[36]

Zhang, W. L.; Ming, J.; Zhao, W. L.; Dong, X. C.; Hedhili, M. N.; Costa, P. M. F. J.; Alshareef, H. N. Graphitic nanocarbon with engineered defects for high-performance potassium-ion battery anodes. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2019, 29, 1903641.
DOI Google Scholar
[37]

Cao, B.; Zhang, Q.; Liu, H.; Xu, B.; Zhang, S. L.; Zhou, T. F.; Mao, J. F.; Pang, W. K.; Guo, Z. P.; Li, A. et al. Graphitic carbon nanocage as a stable and high power anode for potassium-ion batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 2018, 8, 1801149.
DOI Google Scholar
[38]

Zhao, C. B.; Jiang, Z.; Liu, Y.; Zhou, Y.; Yin, P. C.; Ke, Y. B.; Deng, H. X. Molecular compartments created in metal-organic frameworks for efficient visible-light-driven CO2 overall conversion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 23560–23571.
DOI Google Scholar
[39]

Horcajada, P.; Surblé, S.; Serre, C.; Hong, D. Y.; Seo, Y. K.; Chang, J. S.; Greneche, J. M.; Margiolaki, I.; Férey, G. Synthesis and catalytic properties of MIL-100(Fe), an iron(III) carboxylate with large pores. Chem. Commun. 2007, 2820–2822
DOI Google Scholar
[40]

Liu, Y.; Dai, H. D.; Wu, L.; Zhou, W. B.; He, L.; Wang, W. G.; Yan, W. Q.; Huang, Q. H.; Fu, L. J.; Wu, Y. P. A large scalable and low-cost sulfur/nitrogen dual-doped hard carbon as the negative electrode material for high-performance potassium-ion batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 2019, 9, 1901379.
DOI Google Scholar
[41]

Feng, W. C.; Wang, H.; Jiang, Y. L.; Zhang, H. Z.; Luo, W.; Chen, W.; Shen, C. L.; Wang, C. X.; Wu, J. S.; Mai, L. Q. A strain-relaxation red phosphorus freestanding anode for non-aqueous potassium ion batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 2022, 12, 2103343.
DOI Google Scholar
[42]

Jian, Z. L.; Luo, W.; Ji, X. L. Carbon electrodes for K-ion batteries. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 11566–11569.
DOI Google Scholar
[43]

Liu, Y.; Lu, Y. X.; Xu, Y. S.; Meng, Q. S.; Gao, J. C.; Sun, Y. G.; Hu, Y. S.; Chang, B. B.; Liu, C. T.; Cao, A. M. Pitch-derived soft carbon as stable anode material for potassium ion batteries. Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 2000505.
DOI Google Scholar
[44]

Sadezky, A.; Muckenhuber, H.; Grothe, H.; Niessner, R.; Pöschl, U. Raman microspectroscopy of soot and related carbonaceous materials: Spectral analysis and structural information. Carbon 2005, 43, 1731–1742.
DOI Google Scholar
[45]

Shin, M. C.; Kim, J. H.; Nam, S.; Oh, Y. J.; Jin, H. J.; Park, C. R.; Zhang, Q.; Yang, S. J. Atomic-distributed coordination state of metal-phenolic compounds enabled low temperature graphitization for high-performance multioriented graphite anode. Small 2020, 16, 2003104.
DOI Google Scholar
[46]

Gomez-Martin, A.; Martinez-Fernandez, J.; Ruttert, M.; Heckmann, A.; Winter, M.; Placke, T.; Ramirez-Rico, J. Iron-catalyzed graphitic carbon materials from biomass resources as anodes for lithium-ion batteries. ChemSusChem 2018, 11, 2776–2787.
DOI Google Scholar
[47]

Kwiecinska, B.; Murchison, D. G.; Scott, E. Optical properties of graphite. J. Microsc. 1977, 109, 289–302.
DOI Google Scholar
[48]

Malard, L. M.; Pimenta, M. A.; Dresselhaus, G.; Dresselhaus, M. S. Raman spectroscopy in graphene. Phys. Rep. 2009, 473, 51–87.
DOI Google Scholar
[49]

Wang, D. D.; Li, L. J.; Zhang, Z. H.; Liu, J.; Guo, X. S.; Mao, C. M.; Peng, H. R.; Li, Z. J.; Li, G. C. Mechanistic insights into the intercalation and interfacial chemistry of mesocarbon microbeads anode for potassium ion batteries. Small 2021, 17, 2103557.
DOI Google Scholar
[50]

Li, W. D.; Wang, D. Z.; Gong, Z. J.; Yin, Z. M.; Guo, X. S.; Liu, J.; Mao, C. M.; Zhang, Z. H.; Li, G. C. A robust strategy for engineering Fe7S8/C hybrid nanocages reinforced by defect-rich MoS2 nanosheets for superior potassium-ion storage. ACS Nano 2020, 14, 16046–16056.
DOI Google Scholar
[51]

Feng, Y. H.; Chen, S. H.; Shen, D. Y.; Zhou, J.; Lu, B. A. Cross-linked hollow graphitic carbon as low-cost and high-performance anode for potassium ion batteries. Energy Environ. Mater. 2021, 4, 451–457.
DOI Google Scholar
[52]

Wang, D. N.; Du, X. Q.; Zhang, B. Solvent molecular design to regulate the intercalation behavior in ether electrolyte for stable graphite anodes in potassium-ion batteries. Small Struct. 2022, 3, 2200078.
DOI Google Scholar
[53]

Brezesinski, T.; Wang, J.; Tolbert, S. H.; Dunn, B. Ordered mesoporous α-MoO3 with iso-oriented nanocrystalline walls for thin-film pseudocapacitors. Nat. Mater. 2010, 9, 146–151.
DOI Google Scholar
[54]

Fan, L.; Ma, R. F.; Zhang, Q. F.; Jia, X. X.; Lu, B. A. Graphite anode for a potassium-ion battery with unprecedented performance. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 10500–10505.
DOI Google Scholar
[55]

Share, K.; Cohn, A. P.; Carter, R.; Rogers, B.; Pint, C. L. Role of nitrogen-doped graphene for improved high-capacity potassium ion battery anodes. ACS Nano 2016, 10, 9738–9744.
DOI Google Scholar
[56]

Tan, W.; Wang, L. N.; Liu, K.; Lu, Z. G.; Yang, F.; Luo, G. F.; Xu, Z. H. Bitumen-derived onion-like soft carbon as high-performance potassium-ion battery anode. Small 2022, 18, 2203494.
DOI Google Scholar
File
12274_2024_6429_MOESM1_ESM.pdf (3.5 MB)
Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 07 November 2023
Revised: 18 December 2023
Accepted: 19 December 2023
Published: 25 January 2024
Issue date: June 2024

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2024

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The authors greatly appreciate the financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Nos. 2022YFB2404300 and 2023YFB3809303), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51832004 and 52127816), and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing (No. WUT: 2022-KF-4).

Return