Fabrication of Attapulgite/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Aerogels As Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries

Porous silica-based anode materials with high theoretical specific capacity and abundant reserves have attracted popular attention for application in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, poor electrochemical conductivity and mechanical performance hinder the development of silica-based anode materials. In this work, attapulgite/multi-walled carbon nanotube (AT/CNT) composite anode materials were prepared. The structural features of AT/CNT composite aerogels were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). because of the excellent conductivity and porous pathways of AT/CNT anode material, the reversible specific capacity of AT/CNTs containing 0.5 wt.% CNTs (AT-0.5) with a mass loading of 0.67 mg cm−2 was 303.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 50 cycles, and a coulombic efficiency of AT-0.5 was 99.1%. The green LEDs were lit by the assembled battery of AT-0.5. The electrochemical results demonstrated that AT/CNT anode materials possessed practical application values for energy storage. Moreover, the preparation method of AT/CNT anode materials is efficient and environmentally friendly.