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Hydrothermally Assisted Conversion of Switchgrass into Hard Carbon as Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Yilin LiDawei XiaLei TaoZhiyuan XuDajun YuQing JinFeng LinHaibo Huang
Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces (2024)
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, reducing the reliance on scarce transition metals. Converting agricultural biomass into SIB anodes can remarkably enhance sustainability in both the agriculture and battery industries. However, the complex and costly synthesis and unsatisfactory electrochemical performance of biomass-derived hard carbon have hindered its further development. Herein, we employed a hydrothermally assisted carbonization process that converts switchgrass to battery-grade hard carbon capable of efficient Na-ion storage. The hydrothermal pretreatment effectively removed hemicellulose and impurities (e.g., lipids and ashes), creating thermally stable precursors suitable to produce hard carbon via carbonization. The elimination of hemicellulose and impurities contributes to a reduced surface area and lower oxygen content. With the modifications, the initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and cycling stability are improved concurrently. The optimized hard carbon showcased a high reversible specific capacity of 313.4 mAh g -1 at 100 mA g -1 , a commendable ICE of 84.8%, and excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 308.4 mAh g -1 after 100 cycles. In short, this research introduces a cost-effective method for producing anode materials for SIBs and highlights a sustainable pathway for biomass utilization, underscoring mutual benefits for the energy and agricultural sectors.
Keyphrases
  • ion batteries
  • climate change
  • wastewater treatment
  • anaerobic digestion
  • risk assessment
  • sewage sludge
  • heavy metals
  • human health
  • high intensity
  • health risk
  • drinking water
  • health risk assessment
  • molecularly imprinted