Lignite-Based Hierarchical Porous C/SiO_x Composites as High-Performance Anode for Potassium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Silicon oxide (SiO_x, 0 < x ≤ 2) has been recognized as a prominent anode material in lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, suitable electrochemical potential, and earth abundance. However, it is intrinsically poor electronic conductivity and excessive volume expansion during potassiation/depotassiation process hinder its application in potassium-ion batteries. Herein, we reported a hierarchical porous C/SiO_x potassium-ion batteries anode using lignite as raw material via a one-step carbonization and activation method. The amorphous C skeleton around SiO_x particles can effectively buffer the volume expansion, and improve the ionic/electronic conductivity and structural integrity, achieving outstanding rate capability and cyclability. As expected, the obtained C/SiO_x composite delivers a superb specific capacity of 370 mAh g^-1 at 0.1 A g^-1 after 100 cycles as well as a highly reversible capacity of 208 mAh g^-1 after 1200 cycles at 1.0 A g^-1. Moreover, the potassium ion storage mechanism of C/SiO_x electrodes was investigated by ex-situ X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, revealing the formation of reversible products of K_6.8Si_45.3 and K₄SiO₄, accompanied by generation of irreversible K₂O after the first cycle. This work sheds light on designing low-cost Si-based anode materials for high-performance potassium-ion batteries and beyond.

Keywords

anode / hierarchical porous C/SiO _x / K ₄SiO ₄ / lignite / potassium-ion batteries

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2023 The Authors. Energy & Environmental Materials published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Zhengzhou University.