Fe3C Encapsulated in Three-Dimensional Porous Cellulose Acetate as a High-Performance Anode for Potassium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Transition metal carbide is being used as an emerging high-capacity anode material for next-generation potassium ion batteries (PIBs). Therefore, we prepared a three-dimensional (3D) graphitic framework coupled with porous graphite carbon core–shell (Fe3C@PCA) by cellulose acetate (CA) and Fe3C nanoparticles. This 3D graphitic framework could simultaneously improve the electrical conductivity and the stability during the charge/discharge process. The material had a porous heterostructure, which facilitated an efficient pathway for the transport of potassium ions. The obtained Fe3C@PCA composites displayed favorable electrochemical performance as a PIB anode and showed a good cycling stability of 227.9 mA h g–1 after 100 cycles at 100 mV s–1. The successful preparation of Fe3C-doped carbon materials with a three-dimensional porous structure has implications for improving the electrochemical performance of PIBs.