A core-shell structured metal-organic frameworks-derived porous carbon nanowires as a superior anode for alkaline metal-ion batteries

Highlights: • Mn-BTC nanowires were synthesized in aqueous solution without any organic solvents. • Mn-BTC@ZIFs core-shell nanowires with different topologies were designed and synthesized. • PC@NPC core-shell nanowires exhibited excellent performance towards alkaline metal-ion batteries. One-dimensional (1D) carbon materials have attracted much attention based on their great potential applications in lithium/sodium-ion (Li⁺/Na⁺) storage, heteroatom doping (such as N doping) and architecture design could further improve their electrical conductivity, diffusion kinetics and Li⁺/Na⁺ storage capacities. Herein, 1D porous carbon@N-doped porous carbon (PC@NPC) core-shell nanowires derived from two different kinds of metal-organic frameworks precursors, Mn-BTC@ZIF-67 and Mn-BTC@ZIF-8 core-shell nanowires, are reported in this work. N content, specific surface area, pore size and graphitic degree have been systematically investigated by adjusting the carbonization temperatures. PC@NPC-67 derived from Mn-BTC@ZIF-67 shows superior energy storage performance compared to PC@NPC-8 originated from Mn-BTC@ZIF-8, and PC@NPC-67-600°C delivers an optimum reversible Li⁺ storage capacity of 811.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ (for the 10th cycle), as well as excellent rate performance (291.7 mAh g⁻¹ at the high rate of 10 A g⁻¹) and outstanding cycling stability (97.8% specific capacity retention after 500 cycles at a high density of 1 A g⁻¹). Meantime, it also displays high Na⁺ storage capacity, good rate performance and excellent cycling stability. The as-prepared functional materials will be competitive and promising candidate for electrochemical energy storage and other applications.