Effect of Petroleum Pitch-Coating on the Electrochemical Performance of Graphite As Anode Materials

Lithium ions batteries (LIBs) have become the most promising energy storage device in new energy field due to their potential utility as high-energy-density batteries for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Graphite, which is the most widely commercialized anode material of LIBs, exhibits structural stability and excellent cycle characteristics. However, graphite has some problems to overcome. Due to the uneven SEI (Solid Electrolyte Interface) layer generated after the initial cycle, considerable irreversible capacity loss occurs. This results in electrode collapse and cycle instability especially in high-rate charging. Therefore, many researchers have been reported to improve the stability of graphite with carbon coating. In this study, electrochemical characteristics of artificial graphite coated with petroleum pitch were investigated as anode materials of lithium ion batteries. To improve the capacity and stability of graphite, it was coated with petroleum pitch(SP, 150, 200 and 250 ℃). The physical properties of prepared samples were analyzed by MALDI-TOF, TGA, XRD, SEM and TEM. The electrochemical performances of graphite composites as an anode were evaluated by initial charge/discharge, cycle, rate performance, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The electrolyte used in the half cell was 1.0 M LiPF6 dissolved in organic solvents (EC:DEC=1:1 vol%). It was found that the pitch(SP 250 ℃) anode materials had excellent electrochemical characteristics: good initial efficiency (92.9%), discharge capacity (343 mAh/g), cycle stability (97%), and rate performance (84.1% in 10 C/0.1 C) than that of pristine graphite.