  Here, we report the synthesis of hard carbon materials(CSH) made from corn
starch and their application as an anode in lithium-ion batteries. The study
shows that the Microstructure and electrochemical properties of CSHs are
affected by nitrogen doping. It is found that nitrogen is embedded in the
carbon layer with graphite nitrogen, pyridine nitrogen, and pyrrole nitrogen,
so as to the surface morphology was changed and reduced the disorder of the
materials. The electrochemical test results show that the introduction of
nitrogen elements can increase the reversible capacity of the material, with
the first discharge capacity reaching above 426.35 mAh g-1, and the rate
performance also improves. When triethylenetetramine and pre-carbonized corn
starch are carbonized at a mass ratio of 1:9, the obtained material has a
reversible capacity of 122.04 mAh g-1 at a rate of 2 C. During the
carbonization process, the nitrogen in triethylenetetramine is doped into the
carbon materials, improving the electrochemical performance of the material.
Keywords: Lithium-ion battery; Hard carbon; Corn starch; Nitrogen doping;
