Polypyrrole-derived nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes: Template-directed synthesis and enhanced sodium-storage performance

• The polypyrrole nanotubes were synthesized by templating from FeOOH nanorods.
• The nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes were obtained by a facile carbonization of the polypyrrole nanotubes.
• The nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes exhibit magnificent sodium-storage performances.

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N–C NTs) have been fabricated through a facile carbonization of polypyrrole nanotubes templating from FeOOH nanorods, and have been applied as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Owing to their unique structural and compositional features, the N–C NTs electrode exhibits high reversible capacities and excellent cycling stability, and high rate capability. For example, the N–C NTs electrode can deliver a capacity of 248.5 mAh/g at a current density of 100 mA/g after 250 cycles. Moreover, the capacity fading is only 0.13% per cycle from 2 to 250 cycles. Such an excellent sodium-storage performance implies that the as-prepared N–C NTs have a bright application prospect as a high-capacity, long-life, and high-rate anode material for advanced SIBs.

A novel type of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N–C NTs) has been designed and synthesized through the carbonization of polypyrrole nanotubes (PPy NTs) templating from FeOOH nanorods (FeOOH NRs), and manifests magnificent sodium-storage performances in terms of specific capacities, long life, and rate capability by virtue of its unique microscopic structural features.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide