Waste tire-derived graphene modified carbon as anodes for sodium-ion batteries

The rational disposal of waste tires poses a ubiquitous challenge globally. Pyrolytic carbon black, a solid by-product produced through pyrolysis, has great application prospects. Carbon-based materials are regard as the most potential commercial anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs)， which features cheap, environmentally friendly, and low reaction potential. In this study, three-dimensional vertical graphene composite (TCBp@VGSs) was synthesized from waste tires. The graphene with higher defectiveness offers an increased number of active sites for Na⁺, while the vertically aligned graphene facilitates rapid electron transfer. As a result, the TCBp@VGSs electrode demonstrates the ability to maintain a reversible capacity of 252.7 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹. Furthermore, it exhibits a sustained rate performance of 105.4 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 5 A g⁻¹. Moreover, even after 1900 cycles at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹, a reversible capacity of 171.5 mAh g⁻¹ is retained, showcasing good stability and a significantly higher capacity compared to TCBp-1100. This study introduces novel approaches for the high-value utilization of solid-phase by-products from waste tires, offering certain economic benefits, and contributes fresh insights into the advancement of SIBs anodes.