Facile Synthesis of Non-Graphitizable Polypyrrole-Derived Carbon/Carbon Nanotubes for Lithium-ion Batteries

Graphite is usually used as an anode material in the commercial lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The relatively low lithium storage capacity of 372 mAh g(-1) and the confined rate capability however limit its large-scale applications in electrical vehicles and hybrid electrical vehicles. As results, exploring novel carbon-based anode materials with improved reversible capacity for high-energy-density LIBs is urgent task. Herein we present TNGC/MWCNTs by synthesizing tubular polypyrrole (T-PPy) via a self-assembly process, then carbonizing T-PPy at 900 °C under an argon atmosphere (TNGC for short) and finally mixing TNGC with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). As for TNGC/MWCNTs, the discharge capacity of 561 mAh g(-1) is maintained after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g(-1). Electrochemical results demonstrate that TNGC/MWCNTs can be considered as promising anode materials for high-energy-density LIBs.