Lithium and Sodium Ion Binding Mechanisms and Diffusion Rates in Lignin-Based Hard Carbon Models

Biomass-Derived Hard Carbon for Sodium-Ion Batteries: Basic Research and Industrial Application

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have significant potential for applications in portable electric vehicles and intermittent renewable energy storage due to their relatively low cost. Currently, hard carbon (HC) materials are considered commercially viable anode materials for SIBs due to their advantages, including larger capacity, low cost, low operating voltage, and inimitable microstructure. Among these materials, renewable biomass-derived hard carbon anodes are commonly used in SIBs. However, the reports about biomass hard carbon from basic research to industrial applications are very rare. In this paper, we focus on the research progress of biomass-derived hard carbon materials from the following perspectives: (1) sodium storage mechanisms in hard carbon; (2) optimization strategies for hard carbon materials encompassing design, synthesis, heteroatom doping, material compounding, electrolyte modulation, and presodiation; (3) classification of different biomass-derived hard carbon materials based on precursor source, a comparison of their properties, and a discussion on the effects of different biomass sources on hard carbon material properties; (4) challenges and strategies for practical of biomass-derived hard carbon anode in SIBs; and (5) an overview of the current industrialization of biomass-derived hard carbon anodes. Finally, we present the challenges, strategies, and prospects for the future development of biomass-derived hard carbon materials.

Outstanding Compatibility of Hard-Carbon Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries in Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

Hard carbons (HC) from natural biowaste have been investigated as anodes for sodium-ion batteries in electrolytes based on 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([EMI][FSI]) and N-trimethyl-N-butylammonium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([N1114][FSI]) ionic liquids. The Na+ intercalation process has been analyzed by cyclic voltammetry tests, performed at different scan rates for hundreds of cycles, in combination with impedance spectroscopy measurements to decouple bulk and interfacial resistances of the cells. The Na+ diffusion coefficient in the HC host has been also evaluated via the Randles-Sevcik equation. Battery performance of HC anodes in the ionic liquid electrolytes has been evaluated in galvanostatic charge/discharge cycles at room temperature. The evolution of the SEI (solid electrochemical interface) layer grown on the HC surface has been carried out by Raman spectroscopy. Overall the sodiation process of the HC host is highly reversible and reproducible. In particular, a capacity retention exceeding 98 % of the initial value has been recorded in[N1114][FSI] electrolytes after more than 1500 cycles with a coulombic efficiency above 99 %, largely beyond standard carbonate-based electrolytes. Raman, transport properties and impedance confirms that ILs disclose the formation of SEI layers with superior ability to support the reversible Na+ intercalation with the possible minor contributions from the EMI+cation.

Progressive Damage Analysis for Spherical Electrode Particles with Different Protective Structures for a Lithium-Ion Battery

Charge-discharge in a lithium-ion battery may produce electrochemical adverse reactions in electrodes as well as electrolytes and induce local inhomogeneous deformation and even mechanical fracture. An electrode may be a solid core-shell structure, hollow core-shell structure, or multilayer structure and should maintain good performance in lithium-ion transport and structural stability in charge-discharge cycles. However, the balance between lithium-ion transport and fracture prevention in charge-discharge cycles is still an open issue. This study proposes a novel binding protective structure for lithium-ion battery and compares its performance during charge-discharge cycles with unprotective structure, core-shell structure and hollow structure. First, both solid and hollow core-shell structures are reviewed, and their analytical solutions of radial and hoop stresses are derived. Then, a novel binding protective structure is proposed to well-balance lithium-ionic permeability and structural stability. Third, the pros and cons of the performance at the outer structure are investigated. Both analytical and numerical results show that the binding protective structure serves with great fracture-proof effectiveness and high lithium-ion diffusion rate. It has better ion permeability than solid core-shell structure but worse structural stability than shell structure. A stress surge is observed at the binding interface with an order of magnitude usually higher than that of the core-shell structure. The radial tensile stress at interface may more easily induce interfacial debonding than superficial fracture.

Local Structure Analysis and Modelling of Lignin-Based Carbon Composites through the Hierarchical Decomposition of the Radial Distribution Function

Carbonized lignin has been proposed as a sustainable and domestic source of activated, amorphous, graphitic, and nanostructured carbon for many industrial applications as the structure can be tuned through processing conditions. However, the inherent variability of lignin and its complex physicochemical structure resulting from feedstock and pulping selection make the Process-Structure-Property-Performance (PSPP) relationships hard to define. In this work, radial distribution functions (RDFs) from synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering of lignin-based carbon composites (LBCCs) are investigated using the Hierarchical Decomposition of the Radial Distribution Function (HDRDF) modelling method to characterize the local atomic environment and develop quantitative PSPP relationships. PSPP relationships for LBCCs defined by this work include crystallite size dependence on lignin feedstock as well as increasing crystalline volume fraction, nanoscale composite density, and crystallite size with increasing reduction temperature.

Investigation of pyrolysed anthracite as an anode material for sodium ion batteries

Due to the increasingly serious problems of the greenhouse effect and environmental pollution caused by the continuous consumption of traditional fossil energy, renewable and clean energy (such as solar energy and wind energy) is facing new opportunities and challenges.

Na Diffusion in Hard Carbon Studied with Positive Muon Spin Rotation and Relaxation

The diffusive nature of Na⁺ in Na-inserted hard carbon (C _x Na), which is the most common anode material for a Na-ion battery, was studied with a positive muon spin rotation and relaxation (μ⁺SR) technique in transverse, zero, and longitudinal magnetic fields (TF, ZF, and LF) at temperatures between 50 and 375 K, where TF (LF) denotes the applied magnetic field perpendicular (parallel) to the initial muon spin polarization. At temperatures above 150 K, TF-μ⁺SR measurements showed a distinct motional narrowing behavior, implying that Na⁺ begins to diffuse above 150 K. The presence of two different muon sites in C _x Na was confirmed with ZF- and LF-μ⁺SR measurements; one is in the Na-inserted graphene layer, and the other is in the Na-vacant graphene layer adjacent to the Na-inserted graphene layer. A systematic increase in the field fluctuation rate (ν) with increasing temperature also evidenced a thermally activated Na diffusion, particularly above 150 K. Assuming the two-dimensional diffusion of Na⁺ in the graphene layers, the self-diffusion coefficient of Na⁺ (D _Na ^J) at 300 K was estimated to be 2.5 × 10^-11 cm²/s with a thermal activation energy of 39(7) meV.