Green carbon from bagasse for uniform coating of Fe2O3 nanoparticles toward high-capacity and long-life lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract

Sustainable high-performance anodes are essential for next-generation Li-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, we develop an Fe₂O₃@C composite in which Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are uniformly coated with biomass-derived carbon from bagasse—an abundant agricultural residue. Crystalline cellulose extracted from bagasse serves as a green carbon precursor, enabling the formation of a core–shell nanostructure via a simple sol–gel and pyrolysis route. With an optimized Fe₂O₃ : C weight ratio of 8 : 2 and a polyacrylic acid binder, the electrode delivers a high reversible capacity of 1893 mA h g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g⁻¹, retaining 1553 mA h g⁻¹ after 350 cycles at 0.5 A g⁻¹, and exhibits excellent rate capability up to 3 A g⁻¹, outperforming many previously reported Fe₂O₃-based anodes. This superior performance arises from the synergistic effects of Fe₂O₃ and the conductive carbon coating, which enhance electron transport, buffer volume expansion, and stabilize the solid electrolyte interphase. This study demonstrates the potential of bagasse valorization for sustainable energy storage and offers a scalable route to high-capacity, long-life LIB anodes, paving the way for eco-friendly and cost-effective electrode production for large-scale applications.