Issue 7, 2019

Template-free synthesis of carbon hollow spheres and reduced graphene oxide from spent lithium-ion batteries towards efficient gas storage

Abstract

Herein, we report the facile synthesis of carbon hollow spheres (CHS) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) from separators and graphite recovered from a spent lithium-ion battery (LIB), respectively, towards a “Waste-to-Wealth” approach. Subsequently, both CHS and rGO were employed to explore the gas storage capabilities for storing various gases such as N2, H2, and CO2. For the first time, a facile one-step carbonization process was employed to concoct CHS from the recovered polymer separators without the use of a template. Similarly, the synthesis of rGO was undertaken entirely via the mended graphite and using the outer metallic Al cases as a reducing agent. The specific surface area and total pore volume of rGO and CHS were estimated to be 374 & 402 m2 g−1 and 0.16 & 0.30 cm3 g−1, respectively. Moreover, the H2 uptake at 15 bar and 77 K was found to be 1.78 wt% for rGO and 1.22 wt% for CHS. Interestingly, the acquired rGO from the waste constituents displays a high CO2 uptake of 12 wt% and 33 wt% can be stored in the CHS at 40 bar and 298 K. This study affords the prospect of alternate/efficient gas storage materials by recycling spent LIB in an economically and environmentally friendly approach.

Graphical abstract: Template-free synthesis of carbon hollow spheres and reduced graphene oxide from spent lithium-ion batteries towards efficient gas storage

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 nov 2018
Accepted
15 jan 2019
First published
15 jan 2019

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019,7, 3244-3252

Template-free synthesis of carbon hollow spheres and reduced graphene oxide from spent lithium-ion batteries towards efficient gas storage

S. Natarajan, H. C. Bajaj and V. Aravindan, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 3244 DOI: 10.1039/C8TA11521D

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