Fabrication, characterization and application of nitrogen-containing carbon nanospheres obtained by pyrolysis of lignosulfonate/poly(2-ethylaniline)

Lignosulfonate/poly(2-ethylaniline) (LS–PEA) composite nanospheres were prepared via in situ polymerization of 2-ethylaniline (EA) with lignosulfonate (LS) as a dispersant. LS–PEA nanospheres with an average diameter of 155 nm were obtained at an optimal LS concentration of 20 wt.%. Subsequently, nitrogen-containing carbon nanospheres were fabricated via direct pyrolysis of the LS–PEA composite nanospheres at 600–800 °C. The carbon nanospheres prepared by pyrolysis were used as anodes of lithium-ion batteries. The first charge and discharge capacity of carbon nanospheres prepared at 700 °C at current densities of 60 and 100 mA g−1 were 980 and 432 mAh g−1, and 764 and 342 mAh g−1, respectively. The batteries still owned a high capacity of 353 and 296 mAh g−1 after 20 cycles. The results indicated that these nitrogen-containing carbon nanospheres could be used as a promising candidate for electrode materials of lithium-ion batteries.