Carbon for Metal-ion Batteries

Nowadays, rechargeable metal-ion (Li+, Na+, K+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, etc.) batteries/capacitors are in high demand in the energy storage applications. Hitherto, extensive efforts have been devoted to screen promising electrode candidates for efficient metal-ion storage, among which the low-cost carbon materials stand out. To improve the electrochemical performance of carbon materials, many optimization strategies have been developed. However, the research on carbon electrode materials still needs breakthroughs in influence of the heteroatoms and disordered state on the electron structure of carbon, the relationship between the compositions/microstructures of carbon materials and their electrochemical metal-ion storage performance/reaction kinetics, understanding of their energy storage mechanisms at the atomic scale by combing advanced in-situ techniques with theoretical calculations, and so on. This Special Topic aims to establish a platform for chemists, material scientists, and physicists around the world to present their latest advances and perspectives on carbon materials for metal-ion based energy storage technology. Topics covered include, but are not limited to (1) Design and synthesis of carbon for metal-ion batteries/capacitors; (2) Surface chemistry of carbon materials for metal-ion batteries/capacitors; (3) Microstructure engineering of carbon, including heteroatom doping, defect engineering, interlayer spacing enlargement, crystallinity/pore regulation, etc; (4) In-situ investigations and theoretical studies on the electrochemical processes/mechanisms of the carbon electrode materials.