Hierarchical porous carbon material regenerated from natural bamboo-leaf: How to improve the performance of lead-carbon batteries?

Abstract

Lead-carbon battery is supposed as the promising candidate for lead-acid battery for energy storage application ascribed to the unique performance under the high-rate-partial-state-of-charge (HRPSoC). Herein, a bamboo-leaf hierarchical porous carbon material (BLHPC) is successfully generated as the lead-carbon batteries negative electrode additive. BLHPC manifests hierarchical and multidirectional porous structure with broad size distribution and large specific surface area (2595 m 2 g −1 ), which is attributed to the abundant hollow structure in bamboo-leaf and etching of biogenetic SiO 2 nanoparticles. In electrochemical characterization, BLHPC presents high specific capacitance (252 F g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 ) and remarkable rate capability (68.6% retention rate at 10 A g −1 ). Furthermore, cycle life of simulated battery with 0.5 wt% BLHPC (56700) is twice that of the same amount of commercial rice-husk carbon (RHC) material additive (23701) and 7.6 times for blank battery (7455). The battery performance enhancement owes to the high surface area and hierarchical porous structure of BLHPC to mitigate the sulfation and promote electrolyte permeation. • Bamboo-leaf hierarchical porous carbon material (BLHPC) is successfully generated. • BLHPC manifests large specific surface area and high specific capacitance. • Cycle life of simulated battery with 0.5 wt% BLHPC is significantly improved. • The structure of BLHPC mitigates sulfation and promotes electrolyte permeation.