Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon hollow spheres as high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2016-08, Vol.324, p.233-238
• Main Authors: Huo, Kaifu, An, Weili, Fu, Jijiang, Gao, Biao, Wang, Lei, Peng, Xiang, Cheng, Gary J., Chu, Paul K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodes; Carbon; Carbon hollow spheres; Continuous bridges; Doping; Electron transport; Lithium ion batteries; Mesoporous shell; Nitrogen-doping; Polydopamine; Rechargeable batteries; Specific surface
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.05.084

Nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon hollow spheres (N-MCHSs) were prepared using mesoporous silica hollow spheres as template and dopamine as carbon precursor. The N-MCHSs demonstrate high specific surface area and vegetable sponge-like mesoporous shell with interconnected “carbon bridges”, facilitating continuous electron transport and Li ion diffusion, and making the whole structure more stable. The influence of N contents and N-bonding configuration on the Li storage of N-MCHSs is discussed. The N-MCHSs carbonized at 800 °C demonstrate high reversible capacity and excellent rate performance, delivering a capacity of 485 mAh g−1 at a current of 0.5 A g−1 after 1,100 cycles. Even up to 4.0 A g−1, a high capacity of 214 mAh g−1 can be remained. The high electrochemical performance of N-MCHSs can be ascribed to mesoporous carbon hollow spheres structure and high level pyridinic nitrogen doping. [Display omitted] •Mesoporous carbon hollow spheres with “carbon bridges” shell were prepared.•N-doped carbon hollow sphere show high capacity and cycle stability.•Carbonization temperature could largely affect graphitization degree and N contents.•Pyridinic N has a highly influence on the Li storage properties for N-doped C.