Alkali ion diffusion in renewably-sourced carbon fibres

The economic and practical limitations of lithium ion batteries has led to a push for sodium and potassium ion batteries. Similarly, there are economic and environmental benefits to replacing the graphite anode with biomass-derived carbon - and, even better, carbon fibres, which can serve as anode, current collector, and carry mechanical load. The development of such electrodes requires a fundamental understanding of the mechanics involved in ion insertion. In particular, it is advantageous to have fast ion diffusion, permitting larger currents. We wish to undertake a comprehensive comparison of ion diffusion for the three lightest alkali ions within electrospun carbon fibres.