Petrochemical-waste-derived high-performance anode material for Li-ion batteries

To end the unsustainable disposal of pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO), which is a type of petrochemical waste, we investigate the use of PFO as a carbon source for soft carbon and evaluate it as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. This material exhibites a much higher reversible capacity (366.5 mAh g(-1)) than that of commercial soft carbon (236.4 mAh g(-1)) and an extremly stable cyclability. The PFO-derived soft carbon retained 99.0% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles, and a rate capability test indicated that it retained a higher capacity at all investigated current densities compared with that of a commercial product. To further improve its lithium storage capacity, the PFO-derived soft carbon was composited with nano silicon. Notably, even after the composite was formed, the high rate capability was maintained. It was demonstrated that petrochemical waste can be converted into high-performance anode material, and this sustainable approach is readily applicable to the commercial production of anode material. (C) 2016 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.