Preparation of Hierarchical Porous Carbon from Waterweed and Its Application in Lithium/Sulfur Batteries

A nanostructured carbon (NSC) material with a hierarchical porous structure is synthesized through the carbonization of a waterweed, namely Echinodorus amazonicus Rataj. The fabricated NSC is used as an electrode material for sulfur of lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries. The NSC provides for a high pore volume (0.19 cm(3) g(-1)) and large specific surface area (111.25 m(2) g(-1)). Because of the highly hierarchical porous structure of the NSC material, allowing polysulfides to remain in the carbon framework after cycling, the sulfur/NSC composite exhibits an excellent electrochemical performance.