Spartina alterniflora-derived porous carbon using as anode material for sodium-ion battery

Abstract

Abstract Invasive species are a global problem. Invasions by Spartina alterniflora have been an environmental problem for decades, destroying coastal ecological environments, blocking channels and flows, and affecting the local ecosystems. Spartina alterniflora is a grass that mainly grows along the coast, and does not consume land resources. Effective use of Spartina alterniflora could not only prevent environmental damage, but also provide a source of biomass. Herein, we use Spartina alterniflora as a raw material to prepare high performance anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). SIBs are believed to be next-generation high energy density batteries to help address environmental problems and meet the demand for low-cost batteries. However, the traditional material graphite has several defects when it is used for SIBs, in which Na ions cannot move in carbon layers with an extremely low capacity. Spartina alterniflora, with a large number of tubular structures and high specific surface area, has become one of the best choices of anode materials for improved capacity and cycle performance. Spartina alterniflora-derived porous carbon (SAPC) provides large interlayer spaces and abundant pores with sodium-ion storage sites for Na ion insertion during the charge–discharge process. SAPC materials also exhibit high capacity, long cycle life, and excellent rate capability. Furthermore, the application of SAPC materials offers a solution for the elimination of the invasive species.