Superior Lithium-Storage Properties Derived From A G-C3n4-Embedded Honeycomb-Shaped Meso@Mesoporous Carbon Nanofiber Anode Loaded With Fe2o3 For Li-Ion Batteries

In this work, a honeycomb-shaped meso@mesoporous carbon nanofiber material incorporating homogeneously dispersed ultra-fine Fe2O3 nanoparticles (denoted as Fe2O3@g-C3N4@H-MMCN) is synthesised through a pyrolysis process. The honeycomb-shaped configuration of the meso@mesoporous carbon nanofiber material derived from a natural bio-carbon source (crab shell) acts as a support for an anode material for Li-ion batteries. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is produced via the one-step pyrolysis of urea at high temperature under an N-2 atmosphere without the assistance of additives. The resulting favorable electrochemical performance, with superior rate capabilities (1067 mA h g(-1) at 1000 mA g(-1)), a remarkable specific capacity (1510 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1)), and steady cycling performance (782.9 mA h g(-1) after 500 cycles at 2000 mA g(-1)), benefitted from the advantages of both the host material and the Fe2O3 nanoparticles, which play an important role due to their ultra-fine particle size of 5 nm. The excellent cycle life and high capacity demonstrate that this strategy of strong synergistic effects represents a new pathway for pursuing high-electrochemical-performance materials for lithium-ion batteries.