Porous nitrogen-doped carbon tubes derived from reed catkins as a high-performance anode for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Crude protein-containing reed catkins with a natural tubular structure are employed as a carbon precursor to prepare porous nitrogen-doped carbon tubes (PNCTs) by ZnCl₂ activation. The obtained PNCTs, with a large specific surface area of 1751.1 m² g⁻¹ and satisfactory N-content of 4.22 wt%, exhibit a super-high specific capacity of 2016.3 mA h g⁻¹ at 0.02 A g⁻¹, and an excellent cycling stability of 512.4 mA h g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 1 A g^−1, as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs).