Valorizing the carbon byproduct of methane pyrolysis in batteries

While low-cost natural gas remains abundant, the energy content of this fuel can be utilized without greenhouse emissions through production molecular hydrogen and solid carbon via methane pyrolysis. In absence a tax, pyrolysis is not economically competitive with current methods unless byproducts valorized. work, we assess viability byproduct produced from in molten salts as high-value-added anode or conductive additive for secondary Li-ion Na-ion batteries. Raman characterization electrochemical differential capacity analysis demonstrate that use salt mixtures catalytically-active FeCl3-or MnCl2 result more graphitic co-products. These carbons exhibit best performance (up to 272 mAh/g reversible capacity) when used anodes. For all samples studied here, disordered domains retained species trapped and/or intercalated into structure were identified by X-ray photoelectron multinuclear solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The latter lead reduced activity reversibility, poorer rate compared commercial electronic conductivity pyrolyzed found highly dependent on their purity, purest exhibiting an nearly par additives. findings suggest effective removal catalyst could enable applications these batteries, providing financial incentive large-scale implementation “low-carbon” production.