Fullerene‐Intercalated Graphitic Carbon Nitride as a High‐Performance Anode Material for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Two‐dimensional (2D) graphitic carbon nitride (g‐CN) is a promising anode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), but its insufficient interlayer spacing and poor electronic conductivity impede its sodium storage capacity and cycling stability. Herein, we report the fabrication of a fullerene (C60)‐modified graphitic carbon nitride (C60@CN) material which as an anode material for SIBs shows a high‐reversible capacity (430.5 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1, about 3 times higher than that of pristine g‐CN), excellent rate capability (226.6 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1) and ultra‐long cycle life (101.2 mA h g−1 after 5000 cycles at 5 A g−1). Even at a high‐active mass loading of 3.7 mg cm−2, a reversible capacity of 316.3 mA h g−1 can be obtained after 100 cycles. Such outstanding performance of C60@CN is attributed to the C60 molecules distributed in the g‐CN nanosheets, which enhance the electronic conductivity and prevent g‐CN sheets from restacking, thus resulting in enlarged interlayer spacing and exposed edge N defects (pyridinic N and pyrrolic N) for sodium‐ion storage. Furthermore, a sodium‐ion full cell combining C60@CN anode and NVPF@rGO cathode provides high‐coulombic efficiency (>96.5%), exceptionally high‐energy density (359.8 W h kganode−1 at power density of 105.1 W kganode−1) and excellent cycling stability (89.2% capacity retention over 500 cycles at 1 A ganode−1). This work brings new insights into the field of carbon‐based anode materials for SIBs. Fullerene‐intercalated graphitic carbon nitride with expanded interlayer distance and enhanced electronic conductivity is a promising anode material for high‐performance sodium‐ion batteries.