Pillared Graphene Sheets with High-Rate Performance as Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Pillared graphene composite (GP) is prepared by in situ polymerization and subsequent carbonization of graphene oxide (GO) and polyaniline (PANI) precursors. The interlayer spacing of GO layer can reach 1.418 nm with 200% increase compared with the original spacing of 0.706 nm by the intercalation of aniline monomer through pi-pi conjugate and electrostatic interactions. After carbonization, the graphene composite is reinforced by the intercalated PANI-converted carbon pillars and also has a nitrogen-doped level of ca. 4.49 atom%. Electrochemical characterization studies show that the GP composite exhibits a high reversible capacity of 653 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 100 mA g(-1) and an excellent rate capability (343 mAh g(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1)), which are superior to graphene owing to the unique pillared and the nitrogen-doped structure.