Understanding of the Ultrastable K-Ion Storage of Carbonaceous Anode

Carbon-based materials are considered to be one of the most promising materials for negative electrodes of the future, because of their good chemical stability, high electrical conductivity, and environmental benignity. However, to date, the underlying principles of K-ion storage in carbonaceous anodes remain elusive, which greatly hinders the development of such a category of anodes. Herein, the ultrastable K-ion storage of carbonaceous anode through systematic analyses, including comprehensive electrochemical characterizations, kinetics calculations, and structural/compositional evolution mechanism studies, is theoretically elucidated and experimentally verified. Specifically, it is found that the uniquely envelope-like nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets with high pseudocapacitive could bring ultrastable storage of potassium ions, delivering a high initial reversible capacity of 367 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 50 mA g(-1) and retain 70.5 and 75.6% at current densities of 500 and 1000 mA g(-1) after 1000th cycle, respectively. This study could enlighten researchers on further progress in the field of carbonaceous K-ion battery negative electrode with a long cycle life.