New strategy to prepare nitrogen self-doped graphene nanosheets by magnesiothermic reduction and its application in lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Nitrogen self-doped graphene (N/G) nanosheets were prepared through magnesiothermic reduction of melamine. The obtained N/G features porous structure consisting of multi-layer nanosheets. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD). As anode of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), it exhibits excellent reversible specific capacity of 1753 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g-1 after 200 cycles. The reversible capacity can maintain at 1322 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 2 A g−1. At the same time, all results indicate remarkable cycle stability and rate performance as anode materials. Furthermore, this study demonstrates an economical, clean and facile strategy to synthesize N/G nanosheets from cheap chemicals with excellent electrochemical performance in LIBs.