Microporous carbon derived from pinecone hull as anode material for lithium secondary batteries

A new microporous carbon, prepared from pinecone hull, exhibits high charge/discharge capacity when used as anode material for lithium secondary batteries. After 6 cycling tests, the microporous carbon retains a discharge capacity of 357 mAh g− 1, and a coulombic efficiency of 98.9% is achieved at a higher current density of 10 mA g− 1. After the microporous carbon is charged and discharged at a lower current density of 7 mA g− 1 for 8 cycles, a capacity of 394 mAh g− 1 and a coulombic efficiency of 99.0% are achieved. Element analysis indicates that a certain amount of H and N exist in this microporous carbon.