Microwave-assisted preparation of hollow porous carbon spheres and as anode of lithium-ion batteries

Amorphous and hollow porous carbon spheres are obtained by a microwave-assisted method. The as-prepared carbon spheres present good dispersion, homogeneous size, large pore volume and abundant micro/mesoporous shell. Different morphologies of the hollow carbon materials could be obtained by tuning the proportion of ethanol-water. The method is simple, time-saving and under mild reaction condition (low temperature and atmospheric pressure). When the as-prepared carbon spheres are used as anode of LIB, a discharge capacity of 1750 mA h g⁻¹ is achieved at first cycle and still maintain 862 mA h g⁻¹ after 100 cycles for HPC-3 at a current of 0.1 A g⁻¹. The rate capability and cycle stability of HPC-3 are also excellent. The disordered and hierarchical porosity structure of hollow carbon spheres, which provide efficient active sites and convenient mass diffusion path, make the electrode superior electrochemical performances.