Research progress on fibrous carbon materials as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Fibrous carbon materials have a variety of dimensions and structures. However, these materials were earlier restricted for use as anode materials for lithium ion batteries due to their cost and performance. With the development of nanotechnology, some modified and new forms of carbon fibers have emerged, which show good performance as anode materials. This paper reviews recent domestic and foreign research progress on fibrous carbon materials as anode materials. The electrochemical performance and prospective use of graphite fibers, carbon fibers and carbon nanofibers for this purpose are summarized. Research has ranged from non-graphitized to graphitized carbon fibers, from micron to nanometer diameter, and has focused on the parameters of their preparation to the design of their microstructure. Fibrous carbon materials are likely to be important alternatives for carbon anode materials in the future based on their high capacity, high rate capability, low cost and ease of industrialization. [New Carbon Materials 2015, 30(1): 1–11]