Three‐Dimensional Carbon Framework Anchored Polyoxometalate as a High‐Performance Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Recently, it has become very important to develop cost‐effective anode materials for the large‐scale use of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Polyoxometalates (POMs) have been considered as one of the most promising alternatives for LIB electrodes owing to their reversible multi‐electron‐transfer capacity. Herein, Keggin‐type [PMo12O40]3− (donated as PMo12) clusters are anchored onto a 3D microporous carbon framework derived from ZIF‐8 through electrostatic interactions. The PMo12 clusters can be immobilized steadily and uniformly on the carbon framework, which provides enhanced electrical conductivity and high stability. Compared with PMo12 itself, the as‐prepared novel 3D Carbon‐PMo12 composite displays a significantly improved Li‐ion storage performance as an LIB anode, with excellent reversible specific capacity and rate capacity, as well as high cycling performance (discharge capacity of 985 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles), which are superior to other POM‐based anode materials reported so far. The high performance of the Carbon‐PMo12 composite can be attributed to the 3D conductive network with fast electron transport, high ratio of pseudocapacitive contribution, and evenly distributed PMo12 clusters with reversible 24‐electron transfer capacity. This work offers a facile way to explore novel LIB anodes consisting of electroactive molecule clusters.