Constructive and ecological energy storage – A Carbon Coated TiO2 Nano composite anode for sodium ion battery derived from Prosopis juliflora plant Wood

IJEP 45(11): 1016-1023 : Vol. 45 Issue. 11 (November 2025)

Pavithra Kamatchisundaram and Meyappan Revathi

Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies, Department of Chemistry, Pallavaram, Chennai – 600 117, Tamil Nadu, India1. Babasaheb 

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are proposed as cost-effective and environmentally friendly options for electric mobility and grid storage applications. In this context, hard carbon is a promising anode material for SIBs because of its electrochemical performance. Recently, biowaste resources have attracted significant attention among many hard carbon precursors due to their affordability, availability and sustainability. Here, we report the synthesis of hard carbon from Prosopis juliflora plant biowaste, which is a cost-effective and efficient strategy for developing active carbon-based materials for Na-ion batteries. The produced carbon was coated onto TiO2 nanoparticles using a straightforward ball milling process. The resulting C-TiO2 nano-composite was tested as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries. It delivered an initial discharge capacity of 418 mAh/g when cycled between 0.2-3.0 V. The C-TiO2 composite electrode shows good capacity retention at low discharge voltages. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the formation of the C-TiO2 composite, while Raman spectra verify its defect-rich graphitic structure. Surface micrographs clearly indicate highly permeable carbon coating extensively covering the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles.

Keywords

Biomass carbon, TiO2, Prosopis juliflora, Composite anode, Sodium-ion battery, Eco-friendly

References

  1. Wu, Y., et al. 2024. Recent progress in sodium-ion batteries: Advanced materials, reaction mechanisms and energy applications. Electrochem. Energy Reviews. 7(1): 17.
  2. Yazie, N., et al. 2023. Development of polymer blend electrolytes for battery systems: Recent progress, challenges and future outlook. Mater. Renew. Sustain. Energy. 12(2): 73-94.
  3. Wuttig, M., et al. 2023. Revisiting the nature of chemical bonding in chalcogenides to explain and design their properties. Adv. Mater., 35(20): 2208485.
  4. Yoon, G. 2022. Conditions for reversible Na intercalation in graphite. In Theoretical study on graphite and lithium metal as anode materials for next-generation rechargeable batteries. Springer Nature, Singapore. pp 29-45.
  5. Chen, X., et al. 2022. An overall understanding of sodium storage behaviours in hard carbons by an adsorption intercalation/filling hybrid mechanism. Adv. Energy Mater., 12(24): 2200886.
  6. Thomas, P., J. Ghanbaja and D. Billaud. 1999. Electrochemical insertion of sodium in pitch-based carbon fibres in comparison with graphite in NaClO4–ethylene carbonate electrolyte. Electro-chimica Acta. 45(3): 423-430.
  7. Qiu, R., et al. 2024. Performance degradation mechanisms and mitigation strategies of hard carbon anode and solid electrolyte interface for sodium-ion battery. Nano Energy. 28: 109920.
  8. Or, T., et al. 2022. Recent progress in surface coatings for sodium-ion battery electrode materials. Electrochem. Energy Reviews. 5(1): 20.
  9. Onoh, E.U., et al. 2024. Experimental and theoretical investigation of high-performance green-synthesized NaTiO2/AC nanocomposite as high-capacity electrodes for next-generation sodium-ion capacitors. J. Mater. Sci., 59(40): 19210-19227.
  10. Senguttuvan, P., et al. 2011. Na2Ti3O7: Lowest voltage ever reported oxide insertion electrode for sodium ion batteries. Chem. Mater., 23(18): 4109-4111.
  11. Lunell, S., et al. 1997. Li and Na diffusion in TiO2from quantum chemical theory vs electrochemical experiment. J. American Chem. Soc., 119 (31): 7374-7380.
  12. Wang, J. 2023. Sawdust-derived hard carbon as a high-performance anode for sodium-ion batteries. Ionics. 29(6): 2311-2318.
  13. Su, D., S. Dou and G. Wang. 2015. Anatase TiO2: Better anode material than amorphous and rutile phases of TiO2for Na-ion batteries. Chem. Mater. 27(17): 6022-6029.
  14. Liu, J. 2022. Facile synthesis of high quality hard carbon anode from eucalyptus wood for sodium-ion batteries. Chem. Papers. 76(12): 7465-7473.
  15. Ge, Y., et al. 2015. High cyclability of carbon-coated TiO2nanoparticles as anode for sodium-ion batteries. Electrochimica Acta. 157: 142-148.
  16. Dias, A., et al. 2022. N-graphene-metal-oxide (sulphide) hybrid nanostructures: Single-step plasma-enabled approach for energy storage applications. Chem. Eng. J., 430: 133153.
  17. Bi, J., et al. 2023. On the road to the frontiers of lithiumion batteries: A review and outlook of graphene anodes. Adv. Mater., 35(16): 2210734.
  18. Chang, Y., et al. 2022. Labyrinth maze-like long travel-reduction of sulphur and polysulphides in micropores of a spherical honeycomb carbon to greatly confine shuttle effects in lithium-sulphur batteries. Mater. Reports: Energy. 2(4): 100159.
  19. Wang, Z., et al. 2013. Functionalized N-doped interconnected carbon nanofibers as an anode material for sodium-ion storage with excellent performance. Carbon. 55: 328-334.
  20. Stevens, D.A. and J.R. Dahn. 2000. High capacity anode materials for rechargeable sodium ion batteries. J. Electrochem. Soc., 147(4): 1271.
  21. Oyedotun, K.O., et al. 2023. Advances in super-capacitor development: Materials, processes and applications. J. Electronic Mater., 52(1): 96-129.
  22. Acharya, D., et al. 2023. Double-phase engineering of cobalt sulphide/oxyhydroxide on metal-organic frameworks derived iron carbide-integrated porous carbon nanofibers for asymmetric super-capacitors. Adv. Composites Hybrid Mater., 6(5): 179.
  23. Merlet, C., et al. 2012. On the molecular origin of supercapacitance in nanoporous carbon electrodes. Nature Mater., 11(4): 306-310.
  24. Yin, Y., et al. 2023. Recent progress and future directions of biomass-derived hierarchical porous carbon: Designing, preparation and supercapacitor applications. Energy Fuels. 37(5): 3523-3554.
  25. Theriselvam, K., et al. 2024. Effect of biochar extracted from Prosopis juliflora flora plant with paraffin wax and its performance on leakage, thermal storage and thermal properties. Interactions. 245(1): 169.
  26. Devarajan, J. and P. Arumugam. 2022. Boron-doped activated carbon from the stems of Prosopis juliflora as an effective electrode material in symmetric supercapacitors. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electronics. 33(22): 17469-17482.
  27. Raj, F.R.M.S., et al. 2022. Sustainable development through restoration of Prosopis juliflora species into activated carbon as electrode material for supercapacitors. Diamond Related Mater., 121: 108767.
  28. Baghel, P., A. K. Sakhiya and P. Kaushal 2022. Influence of temperature on slow pyrolysis of Prosopis juliflora: An experimental and thermodynamic approach. Renew. Energy. 185: 538-551.
  29. Arjunan, P., et al. 2020. Superior ionic transferring polymer with silicon dioxide composite membrane via phase inversion method designed for high performance sodium-ion battery. Polymers. 12(2): 405.
  30. Xu, Y., et al. 2013. Nanocrystalline anatase TiO2: A new anode material for rechargeable sodium ion batteries. Chem. Communications. 49(79): 8973-8975.
  31. Wu, L., et al. 2015. Unfolding the mechanism of sodium insertion in anatase TiO2nanoparticles. Adv. Energy Mater., 5(2): 1401142.
  32. Zhu, L., et al. 2017. Ligand-free rutile and anatase TiO2nanocrystals as electron extraction layers for high performance inverted polymer solar cells. RSC Adv., 7(33): 20084-20092.
  33. Jerng, S.K., et al. 2011. Graphitic carbon growth on crystalline and amorphous oxide substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. Nanoscale Res. Letters. 6(1): 565.
  34. Wu, W. Q., et al. 2013. Hydrothermal fabrication of hierarchically anatase TiO2nanowire arrays on FTO glass for dye-sensitized solar cells. Sci. Reports. 3(1): 1352.
  35. Aurbach, D., et al. 1999. Capacity fading of LixMn2O4spinel electrodes studied by XRD and electroanalytical techniques. J. Power Sources. 81: 472-479.
  36. Liu, J., et al. 2014. Facile synthesis of carbon encapsulated Li4Ti5O12@C hollow microspheres as superior anode materials for Li-ion batteries. European J. Inorganic Chem., 2014(12): 2073-2079.
  37. Liu, J., et al. 2014. Iron fluoride hollow porous microspheres: Facile solution phase synthesis and their application for Li-ion battery cathodes. Chem. European J., 20(19): 5815-5820.
  38. Wang, J., et al. 2018. Facile hydrothermal treatment route of reed straw-derived hard carbon for high performance sodium ion battery. Electro-chimica Acta. 291: 188-196.
  39. Liang, S., et al. 2022. Bronze phase TiO2as anode materials in lithium and sodium ion batteries. Adv. Functional Mater., 32(25): 2201675.