Hierarchical porous nitrogen doped carbon derived from horn comb as anode for sodium-ion storage with high performance

Abstract

Horn comb, an abundant biomass waste, has been successfully converted into a hierarchical porous nitrogen doped carbon (HPNDC) via a simple and costeffective approach. Tested as anode for sodium ion batteries (SIBs), horn comb derived carbon shows good rate capability and cycling stability, delivering a high initial charge capacity of 400 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹, retaining a reversible capacity of 112 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹, and exhibiting a capacity of 241 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹ after 100 cycles. These superior electrochemical performances can be ascribed to its unique hierarchical pore structure combined with appropriate nitrogen doping effects. We believe that our works will be helpful in promoting the development of high-rate and low-cost sodium ion batteries for large-scale energy storage systems.