COMMERCIAL CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS AS LITHIUM INTERCALATION ANODES

Commercial carbonaceous materials were examined as lithium intercalation anodes in propylene carbonate (carbons) and ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate (graphites) electrolytes. The reversible capacity (180-355 mAh/g) and the irreversible capacity loss (15-200% based on reversible capacity) depend on the type of binder, carbon type, morphology, and phosphorus doping concentration. A carbon-based binder was chosen for electrode fabrication, producing mechanically and chemically stable electrodes and reproducible results. Several types of graphites had capacity approaching LiC6. Petroleum fuel green cokes doped with phosphorous gave more than a 20% increase in capacity compared to undoped samples. Electrochemical characteristics are related to scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller method measurements.