Low Energy Synthetic Graphite from Natural Gas as Anode Material for Li-Ion Batteries

Synthetic graphite is the industry standard anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It offers several advantages such as long battery cycle life and high theoretical capacity. However, the production of synthetic graphite is energy-intensive, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint^1,2. Therefore, alternative low-energy carbon synthetic routes to graphite manufacturing are crucial to minimize carbon footprint of battery making.³<br/>In this work, we present electrochemical viability of synthetic graphite (SG) obtained by the removal of metal from metal-carbon composites synthesized from the reduction of natural gas with metal chloride.⁴ We evaluate the electrochemical behavior of SG under a range of cycling rates (C/10, C/2, 1C, 2C, 10C), and compare its behavior with that of a wide range of commercial synthetic graphite materials. Our results demonstrate the viability of SG as an alternative low energy-intensive carbon anode material for LIBs showing favorable performance as compared to commercial synthetic graphite produced through high energy methods.<br/><br/><br/><b>References:</b><br/><br/>(1) Sasanka Hewathilake, H. P. T.; Karunarathne, N.; Wijayasinghe, A.; Balasooriya, N. W. B.; Arof, A. K. Performance of Developed Natural Vein Graphite as the Anode Material of Rechargeable Lithium Ion Batteries. <i>Ionics</i><b>2017</b>, <i>23</i> (6), 1417–1422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-016-1953-1.<br/>(2) Liu, Y.; Shi, H.; Wu, Z.-S. Recent Status, Key Strategies and Challenging Perspectives of Fast-Charging Graphite Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries. <i>Energy Environ. Sci.</i> <b>2023</b>, <i>16</i> (11), 4834–4871. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EE02213G.<br/>(3) Carrère, T.; Khalid, U.; Baumann, M.; Bouzidi, M.; Allard, B. Carbon Footprint Assessment of Manufacturing of Synthetic Graphite Battery Anode Material for Electric Mobility Applications. Rochester, NY March 16, 2024. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4761943.<br/>(4) Erlebacher, J.; Gaskey, B. <i>Method of Carbon Dioxide-Free Hydrogen Production from Hydrocarbon Decomposition over Metal Salts</i>; 9,776,860; Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States), 2017. https://www.osti.gov/doepatents/biblio/1397265 (accessed 2024-06-19).