Electrochemical Properties of Carbon Nanobeads and Mesophase-Pitch-Based Graphite Fibers as Anodes for Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Various strategies have been devised to enhance the specific capacity (over 372 mA h g−1) and the cycle life of pure carbon-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we have prepared carbon nanobeads (CNBs) with inner onion-like carbon layer structures using chemical vapor deposition. Additionally, mesophase-pitch-based graphite fibers (MPGFs) were fabricated via the melt spinning method. MPGFs had a reversible capacity of 328.2 mA h g−1 with a steady Coulombic efficiency after 105 cycles (at 0.05 mA g−1). When cycled at 0.2 A g−1, the CNBs kept a reversible capacity of 586.2 mA h g−1 after 256 cycles with stable Coulombic efficiency. The onion-like carbon layer structures of CNBs were beneficial to the storage of lithium ions. In this work, CNBs were fabricated with inner onion-like carbon layer structures to enhance the electrochemical performance of LIBs.