Skip to main content
Log in

One-step synthesis of robust carbon nanotube foams with ultrahigh surface area for high-performance lithium ion battery

  • Article
  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A novel three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotube foams (CNTF) with ultrahigh specific surface area have been fabricated through a unique but facile one-step synthesis by using CO2 as both carbon source and activating agent. The activation temperature and time have been adjusted, and the best sample demonstrates a specific surface area of 1959.8 m2 g–1 and a total pore volume of 3.23 cm3 g–1. A reversible capacity of about 870 mAh g–1 is maintained at 50 mA g–1 when the CNTF used as cathode materials. Meanwhile, the capacity is as large as 320 mAh g–1 at the current density of 2 A g–1and the capacity retention is nearly 100% after 500 cycles. These excellent and highly stable battery performances should be attributed to the structural advantages of as-synthesized CNTFs generated by using a facile CO2-assisted strategy, which may potentially be applied in large scale production of porous 3D carbon materials in the fields of energy storage and conversion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhou L M, Zhang K, Hu Z, et al. Recent developments on and prospects for electrode materials with hierarchical structures for lithiumion batteries. Adv Energy Mater, 2018, 8: 1701415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang L L, Zhao X S. Carbon-based materials as supercapacitor electrodes. Chem Soc Rev, 2009, 38: 2520–2531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Yoo E J, Kim J, Hosono E, et al. Large reversible Li storage of graphene nanosheet families for use in rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Nano Lett, 2008, 8: 2277–2282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Huang X, Wang R, Xu D, et al. Homogeneous CoO on graphene for Binder-free and ultralong-life lithium ion batteries. Adv Funct Mater, 2013, 23: 4345–4353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hu Y S, Adelhelm P, Smarsly B, et al. Synthesis of hierarchically porous carbon monoliths with highly ordered microstructure and their application in rechargeable lithium batteries with high-rate capability. Adv Funct Mater, 2007, 17: 1873–1878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wang H G, Yuan S, Ma D L, et al. Tailored aromatic carbonyl derivative polyimides for high-power and long-cycle sodium-organic batteries. Adv Energy Mater, 2014, 4, 1301651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kaskhedikar N A, Maier J. Lithium storage in carbon nanostructures. Adv Mater, 2009, 21: 2664–2680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Li C, Zhang X, Wang K, et al. Scalable self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of graphene for supercapacitors with superior power density and cyclic stability. Adv Mater, 2017, 29: 1604690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zeng S Z, Zeng X, Tu W, et al. Facile and tailored synthesis of ultrahigh-surface-area clews of carbon nanobelts for high-rate lithium–sulfur batteries. J Mater Chem A, 2017, 5: 23209–23220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang Z L, Xu D, Wang H G, et al. In situ fabrication of porous graphene electrodes for high-performance energy storage. ACS Nano, 2013, 7, 2422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Shi S Q, Jian G, Yue L, et al. Multi-scale computation methods: Their applications in lithium-ion battery research and development. Chin Phys B, 2016, 25: 018212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen Y, Li X, Park K, et al. Hollow carbon-nanotube/carbon-nanofiber hybrid anodes for Li-ion batteries. J Am Chem Soc, 2013, 135: 16280–16283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhang X, Zhang H, Li C, et al. Recent advances in porous graphene materials for supercapacitor applications. RSC Adv, 2014, 4: 45862–45884

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang B, Qiu J, Feng H, et al. KOH-activated nitrogen doped porous carbon nanowires with superior performance in supercapacitors. Electrochim Acta, 2016, 190: 229–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhou L, Zhuang Z, Zhao H, et al. Intricate hollow structures: Controlled synthesis and applications in energy storage and conversion. Adv Mater, 2017, 29: 1602914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang H, Wu Z, Meng F, et al. Nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets as low-cost, high-performance anode material for sodium-ion batteries. ChemSusChem, 2013, 6: 56–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Chmiola J, Yushin G, Gogotsi Y, et al. Anomalous increase in carbon capacitance at pore sizes less than 1 nanometer. Science, 2006, 313: 1760–1763

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Raymundo-Piñero E, Azaïs P, Cacciaguerra T, et al. KOH and NaOH activation mechanisms of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with different structural organisation. Carbon, 2005, 43: 786–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu S, Peng W, Sun H, et al. Physical and chemical activation of reduced graphene oxide for enhanced adsorption and catalytic oxidation. Nanoscale, 2014, 6: 766–771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sevilla M, Mokaya R. Energy storage applications of activated carbons: supercapacitors and hydrogen storage. Energy Environ Sci, 2014, 7: 1250–1280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Jia J, Wang K, Zhang X, et al. Graphene-based hierarchically micro/mesoporous nanocomposites as sulfur immobilizers for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. Chem Mater, 2016, 28: 7864–7871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Bedin K C, Martins A C, Cazetta A L, et al. KOH-activated carbon prepared from sucrose spherical carbon: Adsorption equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies for Methylene Blue removal. Chem Eng J, 2016, 286: 476–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Meng J, Liu X, Li J, et al. General oriented synthesis of precise carbon-confined nanostructures by low-pressure vapor superassembly and controlled pyrolysis. Nano Lett, 2017, 17: 7773–7781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Xu J, Tan Z, Zeng W, et al. A hierarchical carbon derived from sponge-templated activation of graphene oxide for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes. Adv Mater, 2016, 28: 5222–5228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Li Y, Wang G, Wei T, et al. Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped porous carbon nanosheets derived from willow catkin for supercapacitors. Nano Energy, 2016, 19: 165–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wang C, Feng Y, Sun X, et al. Fabrication and activation of carbon nanotube foam and its application in energy storage. Electrochim Acta, 2017, 236: 343–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Wang J, Kaskel S. KOH activation of carbon-based materials for energy storage. J Mater Chem, 2012, 22: 23710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang L, Zhang F, Yang X, et al. Porous 3D graphene-based bulk materials with exceptional high surface area and excellent conductivity for supercapacitors. Sci Rep, 2013, 3: 1408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Yuan S, Huang X, Ma D, et al. Engraving copper foil to give largescale binder-free porous CuO arrays for a high-performance sodiumion battery anode. Adv Mater, 2014, 26: 2273–2279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Huang X, Xu D, Yuan S, et al. Dendritic Ni-P-coated melamine foam for a lightweight, low-cost, and amphipathic three-dimensional current collector for binder-free electrodes. Adv Mater, 2014, 26: 7264–7270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Hou J, Cao C, Idrees F, et al. Hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets derived from silk for ultrahigh-capacity battery anodes and supercapacitors. ACS Nano, 2015, 9: 2556–2564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Ferrari A C, Rodil S E, Robertson J. Interpretation of infrared and Raman spectra of amorphous carbon nitrides. Phys Rev B, 2003, 67: 155306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tuinstra F, Koenig J L. Raman spectrum of graphite. J Chem Phys, 1970, 53: 1126–1130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Delhaes P. Chemical vapor deposition and infiltration processes of carbon materials. Carbon, 2002, 40: 641–657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. M Kumar. Carbon nanotube synthesis and growth mechanism. In: Carbon Nanotubes–Synthesis Characterization, Applications. First ed., Intech Rijeka, 2011

    Google Scholar 

  36. Zhukovskii Y F, Kotomin E A, Balaya P, et al. Enhanced interfacial lithium storage in nanocomposites of transition metals with LiF and Li2O: Comparison of DFT calculations and experimental studies. Solid State Sci, 2008, 10: 491–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Zhou H, Zhu S, Hibino M, et al. Lithium storage in ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) with high reversible specific energy capacity and good cycling performance. Adv Mater, 2003, 15: 2107–2111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Zou G, Hou H, Cao X, et al. 3D hollow porous carbon microspheres derived from Mn-MOFs and their electrochemical behavior for sodium storage. J Mater Chem A, 2017, 5: 23550–23558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Qin J, He C, Zhao N, et al. Graphene networks anchored with Sn@Graphene as lithium ion battery anode. ACS Nano, 2017, 8: 1728–1738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Li J, Hou Y, Gao X, et al. A three-dimensionally interconnected carbon nanotube/layered MoS2 nanohybrid network for lithium ion battery anode with superior rate capacity and long-cycle-life. Nano Energy, 2015, 16: 10–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Deschamps M, Yazami R. Great reversible capacity of carbon lithium electrode in solid polymer electrolyte. J Power Sources, 1997, 68: 236–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Wang X, Yang Z, Sun X, et al. NiO nanocone array electrode with high capacity and rate capability for Li-ion batteries. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 9988–9990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Ge D, Wu J, Qu G, et al. Rapid and large-scale synthesis of bare Co3O4 porous nanostructures from an oleate precursor as superior Li-ion anodes with long-cycle lives. Dalton Trans, 2016, 45: 13509–13513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Ma D, Cao Z, Wang H, et al. Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous FeF3 and its in situ homogenous polymerization coating for high energy and power density lithium ion batteries. Energy Environ Sci, 2012, 5: 8538–8542

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to YanChao Yuan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, P., Yuan, Y. One-step synthesis of robust carbon nanotube foams with ultrahigh surface area for high-performance lithium ion battery. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 62, 464–471 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-018-9340-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-018-9340-0

Keywords

Navigation