Nanosheets Bi₂O₂CO₃ as an Anode Material for Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries

Bi2O2CO3 is undoubtedly one of the best anode materials for Li-powered batteries on the market. However, its pronounced capacity fading and poor cycle performance are significant obstacles to its commercialization. At present, the Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets are prepared via a simple one-step hydrothermal method from bismuth nitrate and sodium carbonate. The nanosheets have a smooth surface and a preferred (110) plane orientation. The optimal mole ratio of Bi3+/CO32– is definitively proven to be lower than 1:2. The as-prepared Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets exhibit a decent lithium-ion storage performance, with a high specific capacity (up to 309.3 mA h g–1 at 1.0 A g–1), good cycling stability (nearly 100% capacity retention referenced to the 20th cycle after 400 cycles), superior rate capability (232.6 mA h g–1 at 3.0 A g–1), and quick diffusion kinetic property (the Li-ion diffusion coefficient is 2.78 × 10–15 cm2 s–1), where the Faradaic reaction is the dominant contribution. These promising results open possibilities for exploring Bi2O2CO3 and related materials in energy storage applications.