Cross-Linked Hollow Graphitic Carbon as Low-Cost and High-Performance Anode for Potassium Ion Batteries

Large-scale and low-cost preparation of carbon-based potassium anode with long life and high capacity is one of the footstones for the development of potassium ion batteries (PIBs). Herein, a low-cost carbon-based material, cross-linked hollow graphitic carbon (HGC), is large scale synthesized to apply for PIBs anode. Its hollow structure can afford sufficient space to overcome the damage caused by the volume expansion of graphitic carbon (GC). While the cross-linked structure forms a compact interconnection network that allows electrons to rapid transfer between different GC frameworks. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the HGC anode exhibited low charge/discharge plateau (about 0.25 V and 0.1 V) and excellent specific capacity as high as 298 mA h g(-1) at the current density of 50 mA g(-1). And more important, after 200 cycles the capacity of HGC anode still shows 269 mA h g(-1) (the decay rate of per cycle is only 0.048%). Meanwhile, the use of commercial traditional electrolyte (KPF6) and cheapness of raw materials provide new hope for trying and realizing the large-scale production of PIBs based on carbon anode materials.

Automated summary

The study successfully synthesized a low-cost carbon-based material, HGC, with a hollow structure and cross-linked architecture, providing stable performance in PIB anode, including low charge/discharge plateau, excellent specific capacity, and long cycle life.