Effect of Particle Size on the Sodium Ions Utilization Efficiency of Zeolite-Templated Carbon as the Anode in a Sodium Ion Battery

ZTC with particle sizes of 1 mu m,70 nm, and 10 nmwas used to study the impact of particle size on the storage of Na+ ions in ZTC. ZTC's external surface area and the formationof solid electrolyte interlayers are both increased when its particlesize is reduced, and sodium ions are also encouraged to fill the material'sinternal pores. A series of zeolite-templated carbon(ZTC) with particle sizesof 1 mu m, 70 nm, and 10 nm have been prepared. The external surfacearea and diffusion path of Na+ inside the ZTC was variedby controlling the size of the zeolite crystals used as templates.The three ZTC samples have been used to store sodium cations (Na+) for the purpose of sodium-ion batteries (SIB). It was foundthat the ZTC with a particle size of 10 nm exhibited the highest firstdischarge capacity of 2116 mAh center dot g(-1) at a currentdensity of 0.1 mA center dot g(-1) due to the highest externalsurface area and more complete filling of the internal pore volumeof the ZTC. While the ZTC with 70 nm particle size showed better reversiblecapacity of 180 mAh center dot g(-1) at a current densityof 0.1 mA center dot g(-1), and the 10 nm size ZTC causedmore electrolyte decomposition reaction and more solid electrolyteinterphase (SEI) layer on the external surface of the crystals, resultingin a low first Coulombic efficiency and poor Na+ extraction.