Iron‐Catalyzed Graphitic Carbon Materials from Biomass Resources as Anodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Abstract Graphitized carbon materials from biomass resources were successfully synthesized with an iron catalyst, and their electrochemical performance as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) was investigated. Peak pyrolysis temperatures between 850 and 2000 °C were covered to study the effect of crystallinity and microstructural parameters on the anodic behavior, with a focus on the first‐cycle Coulombic efficiency, reversible specific capacity, and rate performance. In terms of capacity, results at the highest temperatures are comparable to those of commercially used synthetic graphite derived from a petroleum coke precursor at higher temperatures, and up to twice as much as that of uncatalyzed biomass‐derived carbons. The opportunity to graphitize low‐cost biomass resources at moderate temperatures through this one‐step environmentally friendly process, and the positive effects on the specific capacity, make it interesting to develop more sustainable graphite‐based anodes for LIBs.