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.