Synthesis of one-dimensional PAN-based carbon fiber/NiO composite as an anode material for structural lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The devices with high energy storage such as structural lithium-ion batteries (SLIBs) have recently attracted extensive attention, and many efforts have been made to prepare the high-performance anodes. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber with light weight can save volume and quality, which has been recognized as a promising anode material for structural lithium-ion batteries (SLIBs). Herein, we successfully developed a one-dimensional PAN-based carbon fiber/NiO composite (CF/NiO) through an easy and convenient method. Benefiting from the combination of high theoretical specific capacity and high electrical conductivity of NiO (~ 780 mAh g−1) and strong mechanical properties of carbon fiber, the resulting CF/NiO exhibits excellent performance in lithium-ion storage. CF/NiO composite presents a coulombic efficiency of over 99% and good cyclic ability. It performs a high reversible capacity of 648 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1, approximately 2.5 times as high as the pure CF (~ 260 mAh g−1). The excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect between the one-dimensional structural carbon fiber and NiO, making the electrochemical reaction highly reversible.