Enhanced Cyclic Performance of Lithium-Ion Battery Based on Anthraquinone/SBA-15 Composite Cathode Prepared via Ultra-Sonication

In this study, novel organic/inorganic composites were fabricated by blending anthraquinone (AQ) with SBA-15 molecular sieve in varying ratios via ultrasonication, characterized structurally using XRD, SEM, and BET methods, and analyzed electrochemically as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries via galvanostatic discharge/charge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The composite with a 2:1 ratio of AQ and SBA-15 achieved a specific discharge capacity of 144.5 mAh/g at 0.2 C, which decreased to 63.3 mAh/g after 50 cycles, 8% higher than that of the pure AQ. The initial discharge platform of the composite was 2.28 V, which decreased to 2.10 V after 50 cycles, 50 mV higher than that of the pure AQ. This is because the loading of anthraquinone particles by the SBA-15 pore size structure facilitated the stabilization of the active materials, hindered the solubility of AQ in the electrolyte, and enhanced the cycling stability of the battery.