N-doped ZIF-8-derived carbon (NC-ZIF) as an anodic material for lithium-ion batteries

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) has attracted great attention from different research fields owing to its high specific surface area and three-dimensional (3D) frameworks. Moreover, ZIF-8 can be converted into nitrogen doping porous carbon material by high temperature calcination. In our report, A N-doped ZIF-8-derived carbon (NC-ZIF) is synthesized at different temperatures as anode material for lithium-ions battery. The NC-ZIF shows regular polyhedral morphology, high specific surface area and porous structure, which providing a fast transportion path, more active sites for lithium-ions and suppressing volume expansion caused by intercalation and deintercalation of lithium-ions. The NC-800 (ZIF-8 annealed at 800 °C) contented 16.2 wt% N and a small amount of ZnO, which exhibits the best lithium storage performance with high capacity and long cycle lifetime. The initial reversible capacity 465.0 mAh∙g−1 is attained, and the capacity remains 440.5 mAh∙g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA∙g−1, with the capacity retention of 94.7%. Even at a high rate of 500 mA∙g−1, the reversible capacity of 211.2 mAh∙g−1 can maintain over 300 cycles with a capacity fading of 0.28% per cycle. Therefore, NC-800 is a very promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries. [Display omitted] •N-doped ZIF-8-derived carbon was prepared as anode for lithium-ion batteries.•NC-800 has large specific surface area, high N contents and porous structure.•NC-800 exhibits the best electrochemical property, with high capacity and long lifetime.