Tailoring Nitrogen Species in Disk-Like Carbon Anode Towards Superior Potassium Ion Storage

Carbon materials, as promising anode candidates for K+ storage due to their low cost, abundant sources, and high physicochemical stability, however, encounter limited specific capacity and unfavorable cycling stability that seriously hinder their practical applications. Herein, a feasible strategy to tailor and stabilize the nitrogen species in unique P/N co-doped disk-like carbon through the Sn incorporation (P/N-Sn-CD) is presented, which can largely enhance the specific capacity and cycling capability for K+ storage. Specifically, it delivers a high specific capacity of 439.3 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1) and ultra-stable cycling capability with a capacity retention of 93.5% at 5000 mA g(-1) over 5000 cycles for K+ storage. The underlying mechanism for the superior K+ storage performance is investigated by systematical experimental data combined with theoretical simulation results, which can be derived from the increased edge-nitrogen species, improved content and stability of P/N heteroatoms, and enhanced ionic/electronic kinetics. After coupling P/N-Sn-CD anode with activated carbon cathode, the KIHCs can deliver a high energy density of 171.7 Wh kg(-1) at 106.8 W kg(-1), a superior power density (14027.0 W kg(-1) with 31.2 Wh kg(-1) retained), and ultra-stable lifespan (89.7% retention after 30 K cycles with cycled at 2 A g(-1)).