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Porous carbons derived from tea seed shells were fabricated through hydrothermal activation and high-temperature activation. The microstructure was investigated via X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrometer, scanning and electron microscopy techniques. The activated carbons show high specific surface areas and developed porosity, and reveal excellent electrochemical performance, especially for the TSSCB samples. When the carbon material TSSCB was applied for lithium-ion batteries, it delivered superior specific charge capacity of 598 mAh g-1 at 0·1C, and showed an impressive rate capability of 440 mAh g-1 at 1C, and maintained high capacity retention of 82·9% even after 500 cycles. Moreover, when the carbon material TSSCB was utilized in supercapacitor, it also exhibited high specific capacitance of 305·7 F g-1 at the current density of 1 A g-1 and the capacitance retention ratio of 98·6% after 10,000 cycles, indicating remarkable cycling stability. Porous carbons derived from tea seed shells are a potential energy storage material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical porous LiFePO4/C composite has been successfully synthesised via evaporative self-assembly induced by vegetable proteins. The morphologies and structures are investigated by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. Hierarchical porous LiFePO4/C composite presents the connected hierarchical porous structure and nano-carbon network embedded in connected hierarchical pores. LiFePO4/C composite with 5 wt% vegetable proteins (LFP-5C) delivers a higher capacity of 166.8 mA h g−1than LiFePO4/C composite with 8 wt% vegetable protein (LFP-8C) (161.4 mA h g−1) at 0.1 C rate. However, at a high rate of 30 C, LFP-8C exhibits a little higher discharge capacity of 148.6 mA h g−1and capacity retention of 97.3% after 100 cycles than LFP-5C (145.6 mA h g−1, 96.8%). The hierarchical porous LiFePO4/C composite is a promising material for practical application in lithium-ion battery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]