Charge Discharge Cycling Performance Research Articles

Surface-Engineered Ni2P: An Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalyst for Zinc-Air Battery.

The surface engineering of electrocatalysts is one of the promising strategies to increase the intrinsic activity of electrocatalysts. It generates anion/cation vacancy defects and increases the electrochemically active surface area. We describethe surface engineering of Ni2P to favorably tune the bifunctional oxygen electrocatalytic activity and the development of a rechargeable zinc-air battery (ZAB). Ni2P encapsulated with N and P-dual doped carbon (Ni2P@NPC) is synthesized using a single-source precursor complex tris-(2,2'-bipyridine)nickel(II) bis(hexafluorophosphate). The surface engineering of the as-synthesized Ni2P@NPC is achieved by the controlled acid treatment at room temperature. The surface engineering removes carbon debris and opens the pores, exfoliates the encapsulating carbon layer, increases the P-vacancy in the crystal lattice, and boosts the electrochemically active surface area. Thesurface-engineered catalyst exhibits enhanced bifunctional activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The electrocatalytically active sites of engineered catalysts are highly accessible for facilitated electron transfer kinetics. P-vacancy favors the facile formation of defect-rich OER active metal oxyhydroxide species. The rechargeable ZAB based on the engineered catalyst delivers a specific capacity of 770.25 mA h gZn-1, energy density of 692 Wh kgZn-1, and excellent charge-discharge cycling performance with negligible voltaic efficiency loss (0.6 %) after 100 h.

Physical discharge of spent lithium-ion batteries induced copper dissolution and deposition.

Complete discharge of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a crucial step in LIB recycling, with the physical discharge method being particularly noted for its high discharge efficiency and environmental friendliness. However, previous studies and standards have focused on the performances of the discharge methods, neglecting the battery materials changes caused by discharge. Here we demonstrate that although prolonged discharge of spent batteries keeps the voltage around 0 V, an obvious current flow can be still observed, resulting from the dissolution and subsequent deposition of the copper foil. The deposited copper, primarily in the forms of Cu, Cu2O, and CuO, shows a gradient distribution on the surface of the anode and cathode active materials. This copper deposition significantly compromises the electrochemical performance of the discharged battery, with evident deterioration observed in the first charge-discharge capacity, cycling performance, and coulombic efficiency when compared to the original battery. This study provides guidance for the discharge methods and offers new insights into the materials failure mechanisms during discharge of spent batteries.

Silicon-Based Nanocomposite Anodes with Excellent Cycle Life for Lithium-Ion Batteries Achieved by the Synergistic Effect of Two Silicides

Nanocomposite electrodes comprising LaSi2 and Si exhibit satisfactory charge–discharge cycling performances but their capacity is degraded after repeated cycles. A metallographic structure, in which the Si phase was finely dispersed in the LaSi2 matrix phase, was formed before cycling. The elastic LaSi2 relieved Si-generated stress and suppressed electrode disintegration. Contrarily, the LaSi2 phase in the metallographic structure was surrounded by the Si matrix phase after cycling. The positional relationship between the two phases was reversed, and LaSi2 could not relieve the stress. For a nanocomposite electrode containing CrSi2, which exhibits stiffness to withstand the Si-generated stress, the structural changes were suppressed after cycling, resulting in good cycling stability. Here, we considered that the addition of stiff silicides as a third phase to the LaSi2/Si composite could improve the cycle life. Thus, this study prepared nanocomposite electrodes containing elastic LaSi2, stiff MSi2 (where M = Cr, Mo, Nb, Ta, Ti, or W), and elemental Si and investigated their electrochemical performances. Reaction behaviors, such as the metallographic structure, electrode thickness, and phase transition, were also clarified. The LaSi2/NbSi2/Si electrode exhibited the best cycle life without changes in its metallographic structure owing to the synergistic effect of stiff and elastic silicides.

High-Safety Lithium-Ion Battery Separator with Adjustable Temperature Function Inspired by the Sugar Gourd Structure.

As the power core of an electric vehicle, the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is directly related to the vehicle quality and driving range. However, the charge-discharge performance and cycling performance are affected by the temperature. Excessive temperature can cause internal short circuits and even lead to safety issues, such as thermal runaway. The separator plays a crucial role in protecting the battery from regular operation, preventing direct touch between the cathode and the anode while allowing the transport of lithium ions. In this study, we have designed a thermoregulating separator in the shape of calabash, which uses melamine-encapsulated paraffin phase change material (PCM) with a wide enthalpy (0-168.52 J g-1) to dissipate the heat generated inside the battery promptly. Under extra-long-use conditions, the heat emitted by the battery is absorbed by the PCM without causing a significant temperature rise that triggers thermal runaway. The PCM separator can effectively suppress the temperature increase caused by battery penetration. Due to the unique structure of the PCM, the battery is short-circuited; it can significantly delay the internal temperature rise of the battery and quickly dissipate the heat, which is consistent with the characteristics of natural calabash in nutrient absorption and water diffusion, improving the melting and heat storage efficiency of the PCM. The design of the phase change separator provides an effective reference for overheat protection and improved safety in lithium-ion batteries.

A facile synthesis of iron single-atom electrocatalyst for high-performing oxygen reduction reaction and remarkable rechargeable zinc-air battery

Iron-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) are considered to the most promising catalysts to replace Pt for efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the precise synthesis of high-performance SACs and the understanding of their ORR origin remain challenging. In this work, microporous nitrogen-doped carbon with abundant and accessible atomically dispersed N-coordinated Fe sites (Fe-N-C) is prepared by molecular-confined coupling pyrolysis strategy. The Fe-N-C exhibits excellent ORR activities in acid (E1/2 of 0.78 V vs. RHE) and alkaline (E1/2 of 0.91 V vs. RHE) electrolytes. When integrated into a rechargeable aqueous Zinc-air battery (ZAB), both large specific capacity (770 mAh g−1) and high peak power density (240 mW cm−2) are achieved. Remarkably, the as-prepared ZAB presents amazing charge-discharge cycle performance of 1600 h at the large current density, which is 52.5 times of that using Pt/C+RuO2. Furthermore, all-solid-state ZAB delivers ultra-robust cycling stability even under bending. This work may advance a critical step towards the design of rational and controlled preparation of remarkable and ultra-stable catalysts.

X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Studies of Ti-Mn Redox Flow Battery to Clarify the Redox Reaction

Redox flow battery (RFB) is a promising candidate of large-scale stationary energy storage which is necessary to utilize renewable energy. For RFBs, the capability to easily increase the capacity by enlarging the electrolyte tank, high charge-discharge cycle performance, and wide flexibility to high- and low-frequency fluctuations are highly advantageous.Nowadays vanadium RFBs are used for practical use, but the material cost of vanadium is problematic to further spread them. An alternative candidate for commercial use is titanium-manganese (Ti-Mn) RFBs [1] whose material cost should be lower. On the other hand, the stability of the electrolyte for positive electrode (catholyte) need to be improved, because precipitates are created by a charge disproportionation reaction of Mn ions in the charged catholyte [2]. The formation of precipitates decreases the energy density and degrades the cyclability. To improve the characteristics, the chemical state and redox reaction of the electrolytes of Ti-Mn RFBs should be clarified by precise analyses.We performed synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for the electrolytes of a Ti-Mn RFB to directly observe the redox reaction [3]. In this study, the same Ti-Mn RFB electrolyte was used for both positive and negative electrodes. The Ti K-edge XAS of the electrolyte for negative electrode (anolyte) revealed gradual reduction reaction of Ti from Ti4+ on the charge process. The Ti L 2,3-edge XAS spectrum for the anolyte at state of charge (SOC) of 80% was mostly attributed to Ti3+ state. The results for Ti are consistent with electrochemical views in previous reports [2]. The Mn K-edge XAS of the catholyte gradually shifted to higher energy-side up to SOC of 50%, indicating a slight oxidation reaction of Mn from Mn2+. However, the Mn L 2,3-edge XAS spectrum for the catholyte solution at SOC of 80% was of Mn2+ state that was not changed from the initial state. Instead, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM; XAS mapping with a high spatial resolution) at the Mn L 3-edge unveiled that the precipitates mostly consist of Mn4+. Thus, the charge disproportionation reaction of 2Mn3+ -> Mn2+ (solution) + Mn4+ (precipitates) in the charged catholyte was confirmed. In the presentation, the electronic-structure change of the Ti and Mn ions in both catholyte and anolyte will be discussed in detail.

Degradation Mechanisms of a Li—S Cell using Commercial Activated Carbon

<p>In lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, encapsulation of sulfur in activated carbon (AC) materials is a promising strategy for preventing the dissolution of lithium polysulfide into electrolytes and enhancing cycle life, because instead of solid–liquid–solid reactions, quasi-solid-state (QSS) reactions occur in the AC micropores. While a high weight fraction of sulfur in S/AC composites is essential for achieving a high energy density of Li–S cells, the deterioration mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear. In this study, we report the deterioration mechanisms during charge–discharge cycling when the discharge products overflow from the AC. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry confirms that the sulfur in the S/AC composites migrates outside the AC as cycling progresses, and it is barely present in the AC after 20 cycles, which corresponds to the capacity decay of the cell. Impedance analysis clearly shows that the electrical resistance of the S/AC composite and the charge-transfer resistance of QSS reactions significantly increase as a result of sulfur migration. On the other hand, the charge–discharge cycling performance under limited-capacity conditions, where the discharge products are encapsulated inside the AC, is extremely stable. These results reveal the degradation mechanism of a Li–S cell with micro-porous carbon and provide crucial insights into the design of a S/AC composite cathode and its operating conditions needed to achieve stable cycling performance.</p>

Confined covalent organic framework anchored Fe sites derived highly uniform electrocatalysts for rechargeable aqueous and solid-state Zn-air batteries

Exploiting clean, highly efficient energy storage and conversion device like Zn-air battery is of significance for alleviating the energy and environmental crises of this society. Metal organic coordination polymers/frameworks have been regarded as ideal templates to synthesize non-noble metal catalysts for a long time. However, the high density of metal nodes inevitably leads to the heavy aggregation of metal nanoparticles during thermolysis transformation process, which greatly hinders the maximizing of electrochemical performances. Herein, covalent organic framework (COF) has been employed to anchor the quantificational Fe ions (COF-Fe) and then confined into the macropores of g-C3N4 to improve the dispersion of metal active sites and avoid severe aggregation during high temperature pyrolysis. After calcination, the metal nanoparticles highly dispersed Fe-CFN catalysts can be obtained. The optimal Fe-CFN-800 catalysts exhibit excellent ORR and OER performances with the potential difference between ORR and OER of merely 0.723 V. Moreover, experimental way and DFT theoretical calculations are also employed to disclose the reaction mechanism. Finally, the all-solid-state and aqueous Zn-air batteries assembled with the optimized Fe-CFN-800 as cathode present excellent performances with high peak power density, flexible rate performance, strong discharge stability and long-term charge–discharge cycling performance.

Shape-stabilized phase change material based on MOF-derived oriented carbon nanotubes for thermal management of lithium-ion battery

Phase change material (PCM) is a suitable candidate for thermal energy storage as its high latent heat and narrow temperature fluctuations during phase change process. However, low thermal conductivity and poor shape stability seriously hinder the large-scale utilization of phase change materials. Here we fabricated the highly oriented N-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by a facile and high-yield strategy. Then the N-CNTs/docosane composite PCM (CPCM) was fabricated with the as-synthesized N-CNT as the supporting material and docosane as the functional material. It can be revealed that the shape stability of docosane was significantly enhanced by integrating with N-CNTs. The CPCM possessed a thermal conductivity increased by 197.47 % (0.5286 W·m−1·K−1) than that of docosane. Besides, the CPCM exhibited an excellent cycle performance with ultrahigh retention of latent heat (99.95 % in melting process and 99.94 % in freezing process) after 20 melting-freezing cycles. Further exploration reveals that the electronic conductivity of the CPCM increases to 2928.26 S·cm−1. The CPCM was then used to fabricate a flexible thin film for the thermal management of lithium-ion battery (LIB). In the charge-discharge cycle performance test, the maximum temperature of LIB is about 2 °C lower by the utilization of CPCM film. This exploration exhibits great potential in stimulating the development of PCMs and provides a new technology for LIB thermal management.

Ultrastretchable and Compact Zn-MnO2 Rechargeable Battery

The rise of stretchable electronics calls for deformable forms of rechargeable batteries as compatible power sources. The crumpled electrode design is a promising avenue for stretchable batteries by providing sufficient internal space to accommodate tensile deformations. Current electrodes typically have rough surfaces with visible corrugations, which present practical challenges in assembling compact cells for wearable systems. In this study, we report the design and preparation of ultrastretchable electrodes with microwrinkled surface textures. Crumpled electrodes are created in a transfer-printing process based on active materials deposited on metal film current collectors. A polymer membrane is introduced as a key mechanical support to effectively enhance the durability of these electrodes against large and repetitive tensile strains. A stretchable pouch cell of Zn-MnO2 rechargeable battery is constructed with a total thickness of ∼1 mm. The battery cell demonstrates a high specific capacity of 211 mAh g–1, stable charge–discharge cycling performances, and ultrahigh deformability of up to 525% strain. The compact design allows the battery to achieve conformal attachment to the skin and versatile integration with various deformable systems. The present work offers a generic approach to creating highly stretchable batteries with microwrinkled electrodes.

The Impact of Upper Cut-Off Voltage on the Cycling Performance of Li-Ion Cells with Positive Electrodes Having Various Nickel Contents

The charge-discharge cycling performance of pouch cells with single crystal LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2 (SC532), LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (SC811) and a prototype polycrystalline Co-free core–shell material with an average 94% Ni content (Ni94) were compared in this work. Two upper cut-off voltages (UCVs) per cell type were chosen to either include or exclude the remnant of the “H2-H3 phase transition” region, if present, of each positive electrode material. The core–shell Ni94 shows comparable performance to the SC532 and better performance than the SC811 only at 20 °C and 4.04 V UCV. In other testing conditions, the SC532 has the best performance followed by the SC811. The cross-section SEM images of the fresh Ni94 electrode show microcracks from electrode calendaring which is detrimental to its cycling performance as the exposed Ni-rich core has a high reactivity with the electrolyte which induces large impedance increase. The Ni94 material shows quite poor capacity retention and large impedance growth when charged to 4.18 V, through the large volume change associated with the “H2–H3 remnant,” but acceptable capacity retention when only charged to 4.04 V that avoids this large volume change.

Homogenizing the Li-ion flux by multi-element alloying modified for 3D dendrite-free lithium anode

Metallic Li anode has attracted much attention for the high energy density rechargeable Li batteries, owing to the low potential and ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity. However, the Li dendrite growth and high activity of Li hinder the application of lithium anode. In this work, the multiplex alloy composite skeletons have been prepared via a facile two-step preparation method to solve the drawbacks of Li anode, which can form uniformly distributed nucleation sites, homogenize Li-ion flux and reduce local ionization density to suppress the growth of lithium dendrites. Based on the analysis of cross-sectional operando microscopy images, it can be confirmed that the synthesized 3D composite alloy anodes can effectively suppress the formation and growth of lithium dendrites. Li-Mg-Ca electrode exhibits the most excellent mechanical property, thermostability, interfacial stability and electrochemical cycling stability. Specifically, Li-Mg-Ca alloy electrode exhibits the stable charge-discharge cycling performance for 1000 h (pristine Li only for 120 h) at a current density of 2 mA cm−2 for 4 mAh cm−2. The practical 350 Wh kg−1 pouch cell works well and meets the energy requirements of electronic devices. Importantly, the research work in this article provides research ideas for the later lithium-free anode materials.

Polyimide-derived carbon nanofiber membranes as free-standing anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Free-standing and flexible carbon nanofiber membranes (CNMs) with a three-dimensional network structure were fabricated based on PMDA/ODA polyimide by combining electrospinning, imidization, and carbonization strategies. The influence of carbonization temperature on the physical-chemical characteristics of CNMs was investigated in detail. The electrochemical performances of CNMs as free-standing electrodes without any binder or conducting materials for lithium-ion batteries were also discussed. Furthermore, the surface state and internal carbon structure had an important effect on the nitrogen state, electrical conductivity, and wettability of CNMs, and then further affected the electrochemical performances. The CNMs/Li metal half-cells exhibited a satisfying charge–discharge cycle performance and excellent rate performance. They showed that the reversible specific capacity of CNMs carbonized at 700 °C could reach as high as 430 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1, and the value of the specific capacity remained at 206 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g−1. Overall, the newly developed carbon nanofiber membranes will be a promising candidate for flexible electrodes used in high-power lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries.

Bacterial cellulose reinforced polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

A sandwich-like polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymer electrolyte membrane with a thickness of only 60 μm is fabricated. The electrolyte is composed of a porous bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane, polymer matrix and lithium salt, fabricated by only one-step approach. The BC membrane provides strong mechanical property and physically prevents the lithium dendrite from unrestricted growth. Meanwhile, the presence of polar small molecule organics can not only increase the flexibility of polymer chain segments to enhance ion transport capacity, but also obtain a “soft contact” between the electrolyte–electrode. The BPP60% electrolyte shows enhanced electrochemical performance and LiFePO4/Li cell processes reliable charge–discharge cycle performance.

Characterization of cathode-electrolyte interface in all-solid-state batteries using TOF-SIMS, XPS, and UPS/LEIPS

In recent years, all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) have been attracting attention as the next generation batteries for electric vehicles, energy storage systems, etc. Despite the growing interest, there are still many challenges faced in the commercial use of ASSBs. One of the biggest issues is the internal resistance, especially generated at the interface between solid electrolyte and electrode. The internal resistance at the interface limits the charge-discharge cycling performances. In order to solve this issue, it is necessary to examine the chemical and physical interactions at the interface. In this study, we have performed a detailed characterization of a LiPON/LiCoO2 interface using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and low-energy inverse photoelectron spectroscopy to obtain information on chemical species, chemical compositions, chemical states, and energy band diagrams. These powerful techniques have revealed that an interlayer between LiPON and LiCoO2 was formed due to the temperature rise during the manufacturing process. The temperature rise caused a change of the LiPON network structure and stimulated Co reduction in the LiCoO2 layer near the interface. Energy band diagram analysis suggests that the electron diffusion from LiPON to LiCoO2 may have triggered the reduction of Co. We concluded that the chemical changes that occur at the interface caused an increase in interfacial impedance. Preventing the chemical reduction of Co would be a key to minimize the internal resistance. In this article, the detailed chemical interactions between the LiPON and LiCoO2 layers will be discussed.

A nonaqueous organic redox flow battery using multi-electron quinone molecules

Organic redox flow batteries are promising energy storage devices due to their moderately low-cost and scalability. This paper introduces a new multi-electron redox active material, tetra-aminoanthraquinone (DB-1) that is capable of forming cations with an oxidation state of 4+, yielding one of the highest electrode potentials (up to 4.4 V vs. Li) and the largest multi-electron transfer (ca. 4 e−). Computational calculations using density functional theory reveal that the DB-1 molecule has narrower HOMO-LUMO band gaps (<3 eV) than similar molecules (>3.9 eV). Stable charge-discharge cycling performance of this organic molecule is observed with high energy efficiencies (ca. 71%) at a relatively high current density of 20 mA cm−2 over 50 cycles, demonstrating the marked potential of DB-1 for future redox flow battery applications.

Enhancing the Capacity and Stability by CoFe2O4 Modified g-C3N4 Composite for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

As society progresses, the task of developing new green energy brooks no delay. Li-O2 batteries have high theoretical capacity, but are difficult to put into practical use due to problems such as high overvoltage, low charge-discharge efficiency, poor rate, and cycle performance. The development of high-efficiency catalysts to effectively solve the shortcomings of Li-O2 batteries is of great significance to finding a solution for energy problems. Herein, we design CoFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites, and combine the advantages of the g-C3N4 material with the spinel-type metal oxide material. The flaky structure of g-C3N4 accelerates the transportation of oxygen and lithium ions and inhibits the accumulation of CoFe2O4 particles. The CoFe2O4 materials accelerate the decomposition of Li2O2 and reduce electrode polarization in the charge–discharge reaction. When CoFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites are used as catalysts in Li-O2 batteries, the battery has a better discharge specific capacity of 9550 mA h g−1 (catalyst mass), and the cycle stability of the battery has been improved, which is stable for 85 cycles.

Rechargeable all-solid-state tin ion battery in a low-temperature environment

In this study, a Sn–7Mg alloy foil anode, a magnesium silicate electrolyte, and a Sn–40Cu alloy film cathode were fabricated and incorporated into an all-solid-state battery; then, the influence of operating temperature on the charge–discharge cycle characteristics was investigated. An intermetallic compound (Cu6Sn5) formed through metallurgy and heat treatment aided in suppressing the volume expansion of the electrode material. The results revealed that, when operated at room temperature, the battery exhibited the optimal charge–discharge cycle performance. Although the battery exhibited decreased capacity at a low temperature (−15 ​°C), its cycling stability remained applicable. By contrast, at a high temperature (55 ​°C), the battery had only a few charge–discharge cycles due to the escape of the interlayer water molecules form the electrolyte structure. Thus, this all-solid-state Sn battery is environmentally friendly and non-toxic, exhibits suitable capacity and stability, and shows potential for low-temperature energy storage applications.

Interfacial growth of free-standing PANI films: toward high-performance all-polymer supercapacitors.

Along with high power capability and energy density, long cycle life is regarded an essential performance requirement for energy storage devices. The rapid capacitance decline of conducting polymer-based electrodes remains a major technical challenge and precludes their practical applications in supercapacitors. In this work, a polyaniline (PANI) network is synthesized via interfacial Buchwald–Hartwig polymerization for the first time, facilitating the construction of covalently connected PANI networks by ligand-promoted C–N bond formation. Particularly, the interfacial synthesis and subsequent gas release from pre-anchored protecting groups allow bottom-up and efficient access to porous cross-linked PANI (PCL-PANI) films that are free-standing and solvent-resistant. Upon assembling into supercapacitors, the PCL-PANI material enables an unprecedent long-term charge–discharge cycling performance (>18 000 times) without clear capacitance loss for an additive-free pseudocapacitive system. In addition, this synthesis affords electrodes entirely consisting of conducting polymers, yielding highly reversible gravimetric capacitance at 435 F gelectrode−1 in a two-electrode system, and a high gravimetric energy of 12.5 W h kgelectrode−1 while delivering an outstanding power density of 16 000 W kgelectrode−1, which is 10-fold higher than those of conventional linear PANI composite supercapacitors. This synthetic approach represents a novel and versatile strategy to generate additive/binder-free and high-performance conducting thin-films for energy storage.

Long Cycle Life TiC Anode Fabricated via High-Energy Ball Mill for Li-Ion Battery

Nano-TiC and nano-WC anodes for Li-ion battery were manufactured by high-energy ball milling. Pure titanium powder and toluene are mixed with a high-energy ball mill to prepare TiC powder. The powder is calcined at 750°C/1 h and secondary ball milled to make a negative electrode for lithium-ion battery. The phase composition and micromorphology of TiC powder are analyzed and observed, and the charge-discharge cycle performance of TiC anode material is tested. The results show that there are TiH2 and WC impurities in the product after primary ball milling. After calcination and secondary ball milling, TiH2 impurities are removed and the TiC grain size is refined, and TiC powder is obtained with a grain size of 12.5 nm. The specific discharge capacity of the TiC anode is stable during the long cycle discharge. When the current density is 1 A/g, the specific discharge capacity can still be maintained at 110 mAh/g after 3000 cycles. The results show that TiC anode materials have excellent long-cycle performance and could be used as the frame material of Si anode materials. Nano-WC powders are prepared by a ball milling method to investigate the effect of WC impurities on the performance of TiC lithium batteries. The charge and discharge capacity at 0.5 A/g current density is similar to that of TiC anode. After 2000 cycles, the discharge-specific capacity is about 100 mA/g, which is slightly lower than TiC, and the final capacity is maintained at 230 mA/g, but its low discharge capacity affects the performance of the TiC battery after a long ball milling. The results show that the performance of the TiC anode after the first 50 h of ball milling is poor. The main reason is the agglomeration of TiC nanoparticles.