Potassium-ion battery anode—carbon

Carbon-based materials, with their diverse allotropes ranging from graphite to amorphous carbons, play a pivotal role in the realm of energy storage, particularly emerging potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). This chapter explores the fundamental properties and applications of carbon-based materials as negative electrodes in PIBs. Structural differences among carbon allotropes influence their electrochemical behavior in PIBs, with graphite and hard carbon emerging as promising candidates due to their favorable ion intercalation properties. Strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of carbon-based anodes for PIBs are discussed, including mechanical processes like ball milling, doping strategies such as heteroatom doping, and electrode formulation and engineering. Prepotassiation methods and stabilization of the anode solid–electrolyte interface (SEI) are highlighted as crucial aspects for enhancing the performance and longevity of PIBs. In addition, electrolyte engineering is emphasized as a key avenue for optimizing SEI formation and battery performance. The chapter concludes by outlining future research directions aimed at further improving the performance of carbon-based negative electrodes in PIBs, with a focus on scalable prepotassiation methods and tailored electrolyte formulations to achieve stable and high-performance battery systems.