TELLURIUM/POROUS CARBON COMPOSITE CATHODE FOR LI-ION BATTERIES AND CARBON NANOFIBERS ANODE FOR NA/K-ION BATTERIES

Abstract

Carbon materials are often used to enhance the electronic conductivity in anodes or cathodes of Li-ion batteries (LIBs), as well as to support other active materials in high-capacity nanocomposite electrodes. A novel lithium-tellurium battery was established here using tellurium/porous carbon composite (Te/C), which was synthesized by a vacuum-liquid-infusion method. Owing to the physical confinement of Te by porous carbon matrix, the Te/C electrode is capable to deliver a high reversible volumetric capacity of 1400 mAh/cm3 for up to 1000 cycles and exhibits a good rate capability. In addition, in situ study of the electrochemically-driven sodiation and potassiation of individual bilayer carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was also conducted to investigate the application of carbon based materials in sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (KIBs), which indicates that disordered carbon possesses great potential for sodium and potassium storage.