Hollow carbon nanospheres with a high rate capability for lithium-based batteries

Abstract

Higher spheres: Hollow carbon nanospheres are prepared from glucose through a facile, sustainable hydrothermal method. Their morphology provides fast electron and lithium ion transport, which is reflected in a superior rate capability (100 mAhg-1 at 50C) and good cycle stability. Nevertheless, these results provide direct evidence that not only lithium-ion insertion/extraction to the carbon layers occurs, but also that a surface reaction contributes to the high rate performance. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.