Enhancing sodium storage of hard carbon from pulp fibres via beating-induced microstructure regulation

作者：Shijin Zhou, Wenhao Zhang, Ding Liu, Xiaoya Sun, Yiming Wang, Xia Li, Wenjia Han · 发表于：Chemical Engineering Journal · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.cej.2025.171470 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Advanced Cellulose Research Studies、Fiber-reinforced polymer composites、Advancements in Battery Materials

Traditional chemical pretreatment methods for biomass face significant challenges in the production of hard carbon anodes, including environmental concerns, high costs, and complex processes. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a novel solvent-free mechanical pretreatment approach. By precisely controlling the beating degree (35°SR), mechanical shearing disrupts the intrinsic hydrogen-bond network within the fibres, thereby liberating a substantial number of active hydroxyl groups (-OH). During carbonisation, these newly exposed -OH groups serve as preferential sites for structural rearrangement, facilitating the formation of abundant ultra-micropores and closed pores. Compared with carbon derived from raw bamboo pulp fibres, the beaten fibre precursor results in hard carbon with enlarged interlayer spacing, optimized surface chemistry, and suitably developed carbon layers, all further enhanced by the generated closed pores that provide ample accommodation sites for sodium clusters. The resulting HC-35 anode delivers a reversible capacity of 338 mAh/g at 20 mA/g, an ultra-high initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 92.27 %, and remarkable rate capability. Moreover, it exhibits outstanding cycling stability, retaining 90.98 % of its capacity after 500 cycles at 100 mA/g. This work not only elucidates the regulation mechanism of hydrogen bond reconstruction on the carbonisation pathway but also establishes a new paradigm for cost-effective, scalable, and environ...