Abstract
Crystallographic and electrochemical characteristics of a carbon as a by-product of a SiC production in an Acheson-style furnace were examined as an anode material of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the carbon indicates that the carbon is highly graphitized. The fine powder (9.4μm in average) of the carbon gave a reversible capacity of ca. 370 mAh g-1 between the cut-off voltages, 0 and 2.5V (vs. Li/Li+), in 1 mol dm-3-LiClO4/ethylene carbonate + diethylcarbonate (50: 50 mixture in volume) electrolyte. Moreover, the potential change of the carbon during the electrochemical intercalation and deintercalation of lithium was almost the same as that of natural graphite showing slopes and plateaus. These results indicate that the carbon is an artificial graphite as well graphitized as natural graphite.
