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The novel design of carbon materials with stable nanoarchitecture and optimized electrical properties featuring simultaneous intercalation of lithium ions (Li+) and sodium ions (Na+) is of great significance for the superb lithium–sodium storage capacities. Biomass‐derived carbon materials with affluent porosity have been widely studied as anodes for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, it remains unexplored to further enhance the stability and utilization of the porous carbon skeleton during cycles. Here, a lotus stems derived porous carbon (LPC) with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and intrinsic carbon nanowires framework (CNF) is successfully fabricated by a self‐template method. The LPC anodes show remarkable Li+ and Na+ storage performance with ultrahigh capacity (738 mA h g−1 for LIBs and 460 mA h g−1 for SIBs at 0.2 C after 300 cycles, 1C≈372 mA h g−1) and excellent long‐term stability. Structural analysis indicates that the CNFs‐supported porous structure and internal GQDs with excellent electrical conductivity contribute significantly to the dominant capacitive storage mechanism in LPC. This work provides new perspectives for developing advanced carbon‐based materials for multifunctional batteries with improved stability and utilization of porous carbon frameworks during cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), a rechargeable energy storage system, have been successfully applied in electronic equipment, electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as aerospace. Novel and high efficient anode materials play a crucial role in improving the performances of LIBs. In this work, porous hollow biocarbon microspheres modified with nanodiamonds (PHCS-ND) are prepared by hydrothermal carbonization-treated gleditsia japonica peel. Porous hollow structures embedded with NDs are beneficial for providing abundant active sites accessible for ion uptake/release. Serving as LIB anode, the PHCS-ND delivers high specific capacities, ultra-long life spans, and excellent rate performance (430 mA h g−1 after 6000 cycles at 5 (1 C–372 mA g−1) and 113.7 mA h g−1 after 13000 cycles at 20 C), and the data of 20 C is a record among other biochar anodes. This work provides a simple and efficient process for forming PHCS-ND anode to boost the electrochemical performances of LIBs, especially for fast charging with high capacity. [Display omitted] • Porous hollow carbon spheres (PHCSs) have excellent electrochemical performance. • PHCSs were synthesized by hydrothermal assisted by nanodiamonds (ND). • NDs embedded in PHCSs are beneficial for providing abundant active sites. • The PHCSs have good rate performance (113.7 mA h g−1 after 13000 cycles at 20 C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the commercial detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) are introduced to the anodes of lithium ion battery (LIBs) consisting of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) and synthesized graphite by a microwave treatment process. The compound TiO2/DND/graphite anodes are favorable for improving the LIB performance, where the LIBs have lithium storage capacities of 540 mA h g−1 at 0.5 C after 100 cycles and 300 mA h g−1 at 5 C after 1000 cycles, which are greatly higher than the theoretical data (168 mA h g−1) from TiO2 anode alone. The high capacity, as well as excellent cycling performance and stability of the LIBs, are attributed to the synergistic effect of DND (larger surface area, low expansion, high lithium adsorption capacity, chemical inertness), TiO2 (high Li+ insertion/extraction voltage, robust structural stability, lower volumetric expansion) and the improved ionic conductivity of the anode with additional fabricated graphitic powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a new type of anode consisting of mixed detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) hollow nanospheres (HNSs) for improving the specific capacity of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Benefiting from the unique characteristics (high lithium adsorption capacity, large specific surface area and chemical inertness) of DNDs and the porous structure of TiO2 HNSs, the anode plays an important role in realizing remarkable capacity performances (with a capacity of 348.8 mA h g−1 at 0.5C after 100 cycles) and superior long-term cycle stability (with a capacity of 246.3 mA h g−1 at 5C after 800 cycles) of LIBs, which are significantly better than those of the battery with the TiO2 anode alone. The improvement can be attributed to the enhanced Li+ storing capacity and stability of the anode consisting of DNDs and TiO2 HNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Assisted with nanodiamonds (NDs), high concentration H 2 O in electrolyte significantly improves the performances of LIBs. • High concentration H 2 O is helpful for increasing the ionic conductivity and separator wettability of the electrolyte. • Highly conductive ND-rich SEI is formed to reduce the corrosion of graphite and provide more ion storage sites. Commercial lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are usually required to avoid the presence of H 2 O, as the intercalation of H 2 O molecules would lead to the degradation of both electrolyte and graphite anode, resulting in irreversible failure of the batteries. In this work, we demonstrate that assisted with introducing nanodiamonds (NDs), high concentration H 2 O in electrolyte (higher than 3000 ppm) can improve the performances of LIBs. For the electrolyte with 5000 ppm H 2 O and a small amount of NDs, the long-cycle stability and superior reversible capacities of 950 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 100 cycles (130 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 after 10,000 cycles) have been realized, which are significantly improved in comparison with the case of sole H 2 O introduced in the electrolyte. The improvements can be attributed to the synergistic effect of NDs and H 2 O achieving highly conductive SEI network, enhanced ionic conductivity and separator wettability of electrolyte, mitigated erosion of graphite anode, and increased storage sites for Li+. This work provides an efficient method to not only boost the performances of LIBs but also reduce the cost of production in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the core components in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), upgraded separators are of great demand to further improve the performance of LIBs. This work designed two types of polypropylene (PP) separators modified by nanodiamonds (NDs) and NDs/ZnCO 3 (named DPP and DZPP separators, respectively) used to enhance the performance of LIBs. LIBs with the modified separators possess excellent cycling stabilities and high specific capacities at various current densities (739 mA h g−1 for DPP-LIBs and 910 mA h g−1 for DZPP-LIBs after 1000 cycling processes at a rate of 2 C), which are significantly superior as compared to LIBs with traditional PP separators (460 mA h g−1). NDs are favorable for building novel buffer layers on the modified separators during the cycling processes, resulting in uniform depositions of lithium-containing compounds. Furthermore, NDs migrate to graphite anodes and enhance the specific area of the anodes through forming few-layered graphene. The in-situ lithiation of ZnCO 3 creates an additional Li 2 CO 3 layer on the DZPP separators, which serves as a buffer layer to redistribute Li-ions during the cycling processes of DZPP-LIBs. It is demonstrated that the deposition of NDs and/or NDs/ZnCO 3 on PP separators provides a feasible, low-cost, and highly efficient method to improve the performance of LIBs. • Separators in LIBs were modified with nanodiamonds (NDs) andNDs/ZnCO 3 nanowires. • Modified separators are helpful for improving cycle stability and specific capacities of LIBs. • It is demonstrated that both NDs and NDs/ZnO are crucial to the improvements of LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanodiamonds (NDs) were dispersed into commercial LiPF 6 electrolyte and proposed to form a NDs-rich SEI near graphitic anode, which is helpful for significantly improving the capacity and circling stability of LIBs. This strategy provides a highly efficient way for developing high-performance LIBs. [Display omitted] • Nanodiamond (ND) with large surface area, chemical inertness and high lithium adsorption capacity, was uniformly dispersed in electrolyte and formed NDs-rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI) during charge-discharge processes. • The NDs-rich SEI is favorable for realizing high capacities of ∼ 400 mA h g-1 at 5C and ∼ 700 mA h g-1 at 0.2C with circling stability , which are nearly 2 times that for original electrolyte without NDs. • This work proposes a strategy based on ND-electrolyte with industry compatibility for achieving highly practical applications. Designing and synthesizing novel electrolyte and solid electrolyte interfaces (SEIs) are greatly desirable for improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Taking into account the large surface area, chemical inertness, high lithium adsorption and surface modifiability, in this work, detonation nanodiamonds (NDs) with an average size of 5 nm were introduced to commercial LiPF 6 electrolyte and a NDs-rich SEI was formed on graphitic anodes surface during charge–discharge processes. The NDs-rich SEIs have low interfacial resistance, fast ion transport and additional Li+ storage sites, which are favorable to improve the capacity and rate performance of LIBs. The half cells with ND-electrolyte exhibit capacities of ∼ 400 mA h g−1 at 5C (1C ∼ 372 mA h g−1) after 1000 cycles and ∼ 700 mA h g−1 at 0.2C after 100 cycles, which are nearly 2 times that for original electrolyte without NDs performed under the same processes. Further considering the compatibility with industrial processes, the strategy of forming SEIs consisting of NDs from electrolytes is helpful for fabricating high-performance LIBs with high capacity and stability for practical industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three dimensional nanosized ZnO/Si/porous-carbon were fabricated as anode material. • The anodes lead to improving the performances of corresponding lithium ion battery. • The mechanism of the novel anode for increasing the battery performances is studied. In this work, we report an anode material consisting of three-dimensional porous-carbon, nanometer-sized ZnO and Si nanoparticles to realize the high-performance lithium ion batteries. The composite powders are prepared following the processes of fabricating ZnO precursor by co-precipitation, hydrothermal reaction of mixed ZnO/SiO/porous-carbon powders, and subsequent neutralization and roast treatments. Using the hybrid anode material, the enhanced capacity performance (more than 900 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C after 300 cycles) and remarkable long-term cycle stability (more than 500 mA h g−1 at 2 C after 300 cycles) are achieved, which are significantly higher than that of using ZnO or graphite alone as anode. The improvement is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the highly conductive and large surface area porous-carbon, three-dimensional ZnO nanorods, and high adsorption of Li+ of Si particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]