Sulfur-doped mesoporous carbon from surfactant-intercalated layered double hydroxide precursor as high-performance anode nanomaterials for both Li-ion and Na-ion batteries

We describe a preparation of sulfur-doped mesoporous amorphous carbon (SMAC) from a commercially available alkyl surfactant sulfonate anion-intercalated NiAl-layered double hydroxide precursor via thermal decomposition and subsequent acid leaching. The resultant amorphous carbon is endowed with the integrated advantage of featuring high reversible capacity and long cycling stability: intrinsic doping of sulfur, large specific area, and broad mesopore size distribution. Electrochemical evaluation shows that the SMAC electrode exhibits highly enhanced electrochemical performances, compared with the electrode of non-doped mesoporous and amorphous carbon prepared by using a different surfactant (sodium laurate). A high reversible capacity of 958 mA h g(-1) is achieved for the SMAC electrode after 110 cycles at 200 mA g(-1), and especially a superlong cycle life with a reversible capacity of 579 mA h g(-1) after 970 cycles at 500 mA g(-1). Moreover, the SMAC electrode can facilitate the reversible insertion/extraction of Na ion, owing to the proper specific area and mesopore size distribution, as well as the improved electronic conductivity resulted from doping of sulfur. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.