posted on 2023-11-29, 16:20authored byYuan Shao, Qi Yang, Yong Zhang, Na Jiang, Yuhan Hao, Keqi Qu, Yadong Du, Jun Qi, Ying Li, Yongchao Tang, Xuejun Lu, Lipeng Zhang, Jieshan Qiu
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are attracting worldwide
attention
due to their multiple merits including abundant reserve and safety.
However, industrialization is challenged by the scarcity of high-performance
carbon anodes with high specific capacities. Here, we report the metal-assisted
microcrystalline structure regulation of carbon materials to achieve
high-capacity sodium storage. Systematic investigations of in situ thermal-treatment X-ray diffraction and multiple
spectroscopies uncover the regulation mechanism of constructing steric
hindrance (C–O–C bonds) to restrain the aromatic polycondensation
reaction. The carbon precursor of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-type
pitch contributes to a high carbon yield rate (40%) compared with
those of resin and biomass precursors. The as-synthesized carbon materials
deliver high capacities of up to 390 mAh g–1, surpassing
many reported carbon anodes for SIBs. Through correlating specific
capacity with ID/IG values in Raman spectra and theoretical calculation of carbon
materials regulated by different metal elements (Mn, Nb, Ce, Cr, and
V), we identify and propose the binding energy as the descriptor for
characterizing the capability of regulating the carbon microcrystalline
structure to promote sodium storage. This work provides a universal
method for regulating the carbon structure, which may lead to the
controlled design and fabrication of carbon materials for energy storage
and conversion and beyond.