Application of graphite powders treated in reactive Ar-H2-SF6 thermal plasma to anode of lithium-ion rechargeable battery

Abstract

Spherical artificial graphite powders, so-called as mesocarbon microbead powders, were treated in Ar-H2-SF6 radio-frequency inductively coupled thermal plasma. Sulfur and fluorine incorporated into particles. An anode of lithium-ion rechargeable battery made from plasma-treated powder had a discharge capacity as much as 13% greater than that made from untreated powder, while its irreversible capacity loss (ICL) was as much as 9% less. More interestingly, the specific ICL calculated by dividing the ICL by surface area decreased as the surface area increased.