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Characterization of Electrode Materials for Lithium Ion and Sodium Ion Batteries Using Synchrotron Radiation Techniques
Published on: November 11, 2013
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Waste-Towel-Derived Hard Carbon as High Performance Anode for Sodium Ion Battery
Daofa Ying1, Kuo Chen1, Jiarui Liu1
1State Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Reduction for Power Grid Transmission and Distribution Equipment, State Grid Hunan Electric Company Limited Disaster Prevention and Reduction Center, Changsha, 410100, China.
Polymers
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed cost-effective hard carbon anodes from waste towels for sodium-ion batteries. The best performing anode, THC-1300, shows high capacity and excellent stability, making it ideal for next-generation energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Developing cost-effective hard carbon anodes is crucial for commercializing sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).
- Waste towels offer an abundant, low-cost precursor for hard carbon synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and evaluate hard carbon anodes derived from waste towels for SIBs.
- To optimize the synthesis process for enhanced electrochemical performance.
Main Methods:
- Waste towels were pre-oxidized and then carbonized at 1100, 1300, or 1500 °C.
- Electrochemical performance was assessed using galvanostatic cycling and rate capability tests.
- Structural and textural properties were analyzed to correlate with performance.
Main Results:
- The hard carbon carbonized at 1300 °C (THC-1300) exhibited a high reversible capacity of ~320 mAh/g at 1.0 C.
- THC-1300 demonstrated excellent cyclic stability with 78% capacity retention after 200 cycles.
- An improved initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 75.4% and good rate capability were observed for THC-1300.
Conclusions:
- Waste-towel-derived hard carbon, particularly THC-1300, is a promising anode material for SIBs.
- Optimized structural properties, including balanced interlayer spacing and low surface area, contribute to superior performance.
- This sustainable approach addresses both performance and cost requirements for large-scale energy storage.
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