Synthesis of Hierarchically Porous Carbon Monoliths with Highly Ordered Microstructure and Their Application in Rechargeable Lithium Batteries with High-Rate Capability

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2007-08, Vol.17 (12), p.1873-1878
• Main Authors: Hu, Y.-S., Adelhelm, P., Smarsly, B. M., Hore, S., Antonietti, M., Maier, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Lithium batteries; Macroporous materials; Mesoporous materials; Porous carbons
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200601152

In this paper, we report on Li storage in hierarchically porous carbon monoliths with a relatively higher graphite‐like ordered carbon structure. Macroscopic carbon monoliths with both mesopores and macropores were successfully prepared by using meso‐/macroporous silica as a template and using mesophase pitch as a precursor. Owing to the high porosity (providing ionic transport channels) and high electronic conductivity (ca. 0.1 S cm–1), this porous carbon monolith with a mixed conducting 3D network shows a superior high‐rate performance if used as anode material in electrochemical lithium cells. A challenge for future research as to its applicability in batteries is the lowering of the irreversible capacity. Meso‐/macroporous silica functions well as a template for hierarchically porous carbon monoliths with highly ordered microstructure. This porous carbon monolith with a mixed conducting hierarchical network shows superior high‐rate performance when used as an anode material in electrochemical lithium cells (see figure).