Carbon based anode materials for sodium ion batteries

Abstract

Sodium ion batteries are being investigated as a substitute for lithium ion batteries due to the limited availability of lithium resources in Earth’s crust. Hard carbon with interplanar distance greater than graphite is suitable for sodium ion intercalation and de-intercalation. In the present study, two types of carbonaceous materials have been investigated for its application in sodium ion battery anode. Melamine-formaldehyde resin and sugarcane bagasse and its composites were pyrolyzed at 800˚C in Argon atmosphere. The carbonized products obtained showed an interplanar distance in the range of 0.34 to 0.38 nm. The sodium ion storage in the composite is analyzed by galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements at a current density of 100mAg-1. Pyrolysis of mustard seeds at 800˚C under Argon atmosphere for 6 hours was carried out obtain carbonized product. The hard carbon formed showed a surface area of 28m2g-1.This hard carbon shows a capacity of 142mAhg-1 at 100mAg-1 with good cycling stability up to 270 cycles.