Layered oxide cathode-inspired secondary hard carbon microsphere anode material for high-power and long-life rechargeable batteries.

High rate and long lifespan were enabled by the layered oxide cathode active material inspired carbon secondary microsphere. [Display omitted] • Monodisperse secondary carbon microsphere was designed. • Diameters of the secondary particles were highly controllable with the composition. • High rate capability was achieved with the primary particles of ca. 100 nm. • Long lifespan over 500 cycles was achieved with high capacity retention of 83.8%. A new anode material that will provide lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries with high energy and power density is urgently needed. In this work, a layered oxide cathode-inspired secondary hard carbon microsphere (CMS) anode material was designed, and exhibited excellent rate performance and long cyclability. Polyacrylonitrile/poly(styrene- co -acrylonitrile) (PAN/SAN) compositions displaying the meatball-like shape of the PAN precursor were carbonized into CMSs having turbostratic microstructures. The CMS carbonized at 1,000 °C (CMS1000) displayed high specific capacity at the highest current density of 1,000 mA g−1, i.e. , 77.6 % of its average charge capacity at 100 mA g−1, and considerable cycling retention after 500 cycles, i.e. , 83.8 % of the specific capacity at cycle 25. Our work demonstrates that the design of new anode materials is a fruitful route to improve commercial Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]