D-Glucose Derived Nanospheric Hard Carbon Electrodes for Room-Temperature Sodium-Ion Batteries

Electrochemical performance of nanospheric glucose derived hard carbon based electrodes, specially derived from D-glucose via hydrothermal carbonization and subsequent pyrolysis at 1100°C, has been studied in 1 M NaClO 4 propylene carbonate electrolyte. High Na + electroreduction and Na oxidation peaks were observed in cyclic voltammograms. Galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements demonstrated high specific capacity, over 300 mAh g −1 for the first cycle. After 200 th cycle, a specific capacity of 160 mAh g −1 (at 50 mA g −1 cycling rate) has been calculated for the nanospheric hard carbon based half-cells. Raman spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy data indicated accumulation (adsorption/absorption) of Na onto/into the electrochemically polarized porous nanospheric hard carbon material. Impedance data demonstrated that electrode potential has a noticeable influence on the total polarization, and charge transfer resistance as well as on the mass transfer characteristics at the carbon|(1 M NaClO 4 + propylene carbonate) electrolyte interface.