Improved carbon anode for lithium batteries - Pretreatment of carbon particles in a polyelectrolyte solution

A novel approach to reduce irreversible Li loss due to carbon anode passivation is described. The graphite particles for use as anode material are pretreated in an aqueous solution of a polyelectrolyte. The polyelectrolyte (gelatin) molecules adsorb onto the particle surface and have a significant impact on anode passivation, as well as on the binding properties of the carbon particles, i.e., gelatin also serves as a particle binder. The reversible capacity of pretreated electrodes is similar to the reversible capacity of conventional electrodes, but the irreversible capacity losses are much smaller and limited to the first charge/discharge cycle. (C) 2000 The Electrochemical Society. S1099-0062(99)12-044-3. All rights reserved.