High performance potassium-ion and lithium-ion batteries anode based on natural N-doped carbon microspheres

As an inexpensive and renewable anode material with the advantages of less intercalation-induced exfoliation, superior molecularly doping performance, and outstanding rate capacity, hard carbon material attracts extensive attention in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (KIBs). In this work, a series of glucosamine hard carbon microspheres (GCMs) are synthesized through facile and inexpensive hydrothermal and pyrolysis procedures. The obtained hard carbon microspheres as anode material provide favorable dual functionality for both LIBs and KIBs. The electrochemical performance of GCMs electrodes at various carbonation temperatures is fully evaluated. The as-prepared GCM-900 is an admirable anode for LIBs, with good reversible capacity (407.8 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g after 200 cycles) and rate performance. Correspondingly, the GCM-1100 is good for KIBs (269.9 mAh/g at 0.05 A/g and 161.9 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 0.1 A/g).