Monolithic Carbons with Tailored Crystallinity and Porous Structure as Lithium-Ion Anodes for Fundamental Understanding Their Rate Performance and Cycle Stability

A series of hierarchically multimodal (micro-, meso-/macro-) porous carbon monoliths with tunable crystallinity and architecture have been designedly prepared through a simple and effective gelation through a dual phase separation process and subsequent pyrolysis. Because of the magnificent structural characteristics, such as highly interconnected three-dimensional (3D) crystalline carbon framework with hierarchical pore channels, which ensure a fast electron transfer network and lithium-ion transport, the carbon anodes exhibit a good cycle performance and rate capability in lithium-ion cells. Importantly, a correlation between the electrochemical performances and their structural features of crystalline and textural parameters has been established for the first time, which may be of valid for better understanding of their rate performance and cycle stability.