3D ordered hierarchically porous carbon derived from colloidal crystal templates towards alkali metal-ion batteries

Carbon materials possessing many merits including chemical stability, large specific surface, high electrical conductivity, low cost and easy to synthesize have considered as promising electrode materials for electro-chemical energy storage devices. Especially, three-dimensional (3D) ordered hierarchically porous carbon (3D OHPC) materials templated from colloidal crystals have attracted much attention. These materials have special advantages such as 3D continuous carbon network that can enhance the charge transfer, interconnected ordered macropores that can promote the rapid diffusion of electrolyte/ions, and meso-or micropores that can provide high surface areas and accommodate guest active materials. In the present review, the synthetic strategies and main features for two main structures of 3D OHPC, inverse opal and opal, are reported and concisely described. Recent progresses in the alkali-metal ion batteries based on 3D OHPC, such as Li-ion batteries, Na-ion batteries, K-ion batteries, Li-S(Se) batteries, are discussed. At last, current challenges in the controlled synthesis of 3D OHPC-based electrode and prospects for the applications in alkali-metal ion batteries are proposed. The review could offer a guidance for rational design and synthesis of 3D OHPC materials toward alkali metal-ion batteries with high-performances.

Automated summary

Carbon materials, especially 3D ordered hierarchically porous carbon (3D OHPC) materials templated from colloidal crystals, have shown great potential as electrode materials for electro-chemical energy storage devices. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthetic strategies, main features, and recent progresses in the alkali-metal ion batteries based on 3D OHPC. It also highlights the current challenges and prospects for the applications of 3D OHPC in alkali-metal ion batteries.