Li-incorporated porous carbon monoliths derived from carboxymethyl cellulose as anode material for high power lithium-ion batteries

In this study, a simple and effective pre-lithiation strategy is developed to resolve a large initial irreversible capacity loss and low initial Coulombic efficiency of porous carbon as anode material for Li-ion batteries. By using this strategy, Li-incorporated hierarchically porous carbon monoliths (PCMs) are successfully obtained from water-soluble carboxymethyl cellulose lithium salt. The prepared PCMs are found to have amorphous carbon structures and well-developed hierarchical pore architectures. In addition, Li is found to be homogeneously incorporated throughout the prepared PCMs. The electrochemical properties of the prepared Li-incorporated PCMs are studied in a half-cell configuration and exhibit lower initial irreversible capacity along with stable cycle life at high current densities. Generally, the resistance of LIB cell remarkably increases at the end of discharge. Here, the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique analyses reveal a higher diffusion coefficient of the prepared Li-incorporated PCMs, specifically at the end of discharge. Therefore, this inherent property of Li-incorporated PCMs is favorable for high-power LIB anode materials. • A simple and effective pre-lithiation strategy is developed. • Li-incorporated porous carbon obtained via ice-templating and carbonization. • Reversible capacity improved by 10% in pre-lithiated CCMC-Li. • Pre-lithiated CCMC-Li has lower charge transfer resistance. • Pre-lithiated CCMC-Li possess higher diffusion coefficients.