Guanine-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Ordered Mesoporous Carbons for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

In this study, nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbons (NOMCs) were synthesized by using low-molecular-weight phenolic resin precursors (resol) as carbon source, guanine as nitrogen source and SBA-15 as hard template. Controlling the amount of guanine, NOMC with moderate nitrogen content (8.76 wt%) and specific surface area (1020 m2 g−1) was obtained. The nitrogen atoms were incorporated into the carbon matrix in the form of pyridinic and graphitic nitrogen species. Used as lithium ion battery anode, it has a reversible capacity of 562.4 mA h g−1 at current density of 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. Moreover, it exhibits enhanced rate performance. The improved electrochemical properties can be ascribed to the nitrogen-doped frameworks and ordered mesoporous structure.