Fast synthesis of carbon microspheres via a microwave-assisted reaction for sodium ion batteries

A fast microwave-assisted approach was developed to fabricate carbon microspheres (CSs) using sucrose as the precursor in a microwave system. After thermal treatment at 300, 500, 700 and 1000 °C, the CSs were used as anode materials for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). The results show that CSs treated at 500 °C exhibit a maximum capacity of 183 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 30 mA g^-1 after 50 cycles, and even at a high current density of 1000 mA g^-1 a capacity of 83 mA h g^-1 is maintained. The high capacity, good cycling stability and excellent rate performance of CSs, due to their unique spherical structure, make them a promising candidate for anode materials for SIBs.