Lignin-based electrospun carbon nanofibrous webs as free-standing and binder-free electrodes for sodium ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 272; pp. 800 - 807
• Main Authors: Jin, Juan, Yu, Bao-jun, Shi, Zhi-qiang, Wang, Cheng-yang, Chong, Chuan-bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 25.12.2014
• Subjects: Anodes; Applied sciences; Carbon; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electric batteries; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Exact sciences and technology; Heat treatment; Morphology; Nanostructure; Sodium; Webs; Electrodes; Lignin; Sodium-ion battery; Electrospinning; Free-standing film; Carbon nanofibers; Secondary cell; Nanostructure; Sodium ion batteries; Carbon; Lignosulfonate; Carbon fiber
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.08.119

Low-cost and bio-based carbon nanofibrous webs (PL-CNFs) are fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) - refined lignin (RL) which is extracted from hardwood lignosulfonate via simple eletrospinning followed by stabilization and carbonization. The effects of the PAN/RL mass ratios varying from 9/1,7/3 to 5/5 and heat-treatment temperatures (HTTs) in the range from 800,1000 to 1300 [degrees]C on morphology and structure of PL-CNFs are systematically studied. Due to unique morphology and weakly ordered turbostratic microstructure of the 3-D conductive composite networks, the PL-CNFs anode obtained at 1300 [degrees]C with a mass ratio of 5/5 exhibits a high reversible capacity of 292.6 mA h g super(-1) with an initial efficiency of 70.5% at a constant current density of 0.02 A g super(-1) when used as free-standing and binder-free anodes for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). The anode also presents high rate capability (210 and 80 mA h g super(-1) at 0.4 and 1 A g super(-1), respectively) and excellent cycle stability (247 mA h g super(-1) reversible capacity with 90.2% capacity retention ratio at 0.1 A g super(-1) over 200 cycles). It is demonstrated that biomass waste lignin can be applied as a promising precursor to fabricate low-cost-high performance carbon electrode materials for SIBs.