Intercalation chemistry of graphite-like layered material BC6N for anode of Li ion battery

Films with an approximate composition of BC6N were prepared by the reaction of acrylonitrile with boron trichloride (mole ratio = 2:1) at 1470-2070 K under atmospheric pressure. The films obtained at 1470 and 2070 K had graphite-like layered structure whose interlayer spaces were 0.339 and 0.342 nm, respectively. Rapid chemical intercalation of Li into the BC6N prepared at 2070 K was observed in Li(+)C(10)Hi/2-MeTHF solution, resulting in formation of the first stage intercalation compound with an interlayer space (d-spacing) of 0.365 nm. The BC6N prepared at 1470 K performed electrochemical charge/discharge cycles similar to those of graphite in 1M-LiPF6/EC + DEC solution. The first stage compound of LixBC6N, which was prepared by the electrochemical method, had a d-spacing of 0.355 nm smaller than that of LiC6 (0.370 nm). The small expansion ratio in d-spacing [4.7% = {(0.355-0.339)/0.339} X 100] could be one of the advantages of the BC6N material for the usage as Li ion battery anode. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.