Microwave-enabled rapid, continuous, and substrate-free synthesis of few-layer graphdiyne nanosheets for enhanced potassium metal battery performance

Graphdiyne (GDY) is a two-dimensional carbon allotrope with exceptional physical and chemical properties that is gaining increasing attention. However, its efficient and scalable synthesis remains a significant challenge. We present a microwave-assisted approach for its continuous, large-scale production which enables synthesis at a rate of 0.6 g/h, with a yield of up to 90%. The synthesized GDY nanosheets have an average diameter of 246 nm and a thickness of 4 nm. We used GDY as a stable coating for potassium (K) metal anodes (K@GDY), taking advantage of its unique molecular structure to provide favorable paths for K-ion transport. This modification significantly inhibited dendrite formation and improved the cycling stability of K metal batteries. Full-cells with perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) cathodes showed the clear superiority of the K@GDY anodes over bare K anodes in terms of performance, stability, and cycle life. The K@GDY maintained a stable voltage plateau and gave an excellent capacity retention after 600 cycles with nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency. This work not only provides a scalable and efficient way for GDY synthesis but also opens new possibilities for its use in energy storage and other advanced technologies.

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