Synthesis of hierarchically porous carbon monoliths with highly ordered microstructure and their application in rechargeable lithium batteries with high-rate capability

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.