Biomass-Derived Carbon With Large Interlayer Spacing for Anode of Potassium Ion Batteries

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are emerging as powerful candidate for grid-oriented energy storage owing to their potentially low cost. Carbon is considered the promising anode for PIBs on the basis of its high conductivity and abundant sources. The biggest challenge confronted by carbon anodes lies in insufficient cycle life as well as rate capability, resulting from the limited interlayer spacing of the sp²-hybrid carbon incompatible with the large-radius potassium. Herein, a biomass-derived carbon with a large interlayer spacing of 0.44 nm is fabricated via a zinc-assisted pyrolysis synthesis. The unique structure endows the carbon with superior capacity, rate capability, and cycle durability. The large interlayer spacing of carbons can promote fast potassium diffusion and alleviate the volume expansion during potassiation, conferring those rate capabilities and cycleability. The interconnected network structure is also able to shorten both the transport distances of electrons and ions. The demonstration exemplifies an advanced carbon for anodes of PIBs for energy storage applications.