Activated hard carbons, obtained from the pyrolysis of various waste biomasses, were prepared and characterized for use as the active material for the fabrication of battery electrodes. The preparation consisted of a pyrolysis process, followed by an activation with KOH and a further high-temperature thermal process. TG and DTA were used to discriminate the steps of the activation process, while SEM, XRD, and Raman characterization were employed to evaluate the effects of activation. The activated carbons were tested as electrodes in lithium-sulfur and lithium-ion batteries. The carbonaceous materials coming from cherry stones and walnut shells have proved to be particularly suitable as electrode components. When used as anodes in lithium-ion batteries, both carbons exhibited a high first cycle discharge capacity, which was not restored during the next charge. After the first two cycles, in which there was a marked loss of capacity, both electrodes showed good reversibility. When used as cathodes in lithium-sulfur batteries, both carbons exhibited good catalytic activity against the redox reaction involving sulfur species with good cycle stability and satisfactory Coulombic efficiency.
Keywords: Li-ion battery; Li-sulfur battery; activated carbon; pyrolysis; waste biomass.