Comparative Study on the Structural Properties and Electrochemical Performance of Xylan-derived Char Catalyzed by Na2CO3 at Various Concentrations

This study investigated the catalytic effect of Na2CO3 on the structural properties of xylan char, and tested its electrochemical performance as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries. Characterization using X-ray microscopy and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the morphological structure of xylan char was altered following Na2CO3 catalysis. Increasing the Na2CO3/xylan ratio resulted in a slenderization of the triangular prism shape of the char skeleton and a reduction in porosity. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that Na2CO3 promoted the growth of the (004) crystal plane of graphite during xylan pyrolysis, while inhibiting the formation of the (100/101) crystal planes. Raman spectroscopy analysis indicated that the presence of Na2CO3 had changed the graphitization degree of xylan char. Electrochemical tests further showed that char prepared with a Na2CO3/xylan mass ratio of 1:1 exhibited the highest sodium storage capacity. These findings suggest that carbon materials derived from xylan hold promise for future applications in energy storage devices.