Commercial Carbonaceous Materials as Lithium Intercalation Anodes

Abstract

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 . 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.