Graphite with fullerene and filamentous carbon structures formed from iron melt as a lithium-intercalating anode

The electrochemical properties of flaky graphite containing carbon nanostructures, synthesized by a dissolution-precipitation method from a carbon-rich cast iron melt, were investigated. The formation of the highly crystalline graphite was realized at temperatures as low as 1600 jC. The presence of fullerenes and filamentous carbon structures on the graphite was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The reversible lithium intercalation capacity of the graphitic product was more than 300 mAh/g. The first-cycle irreversible capacity was a mere 14%. The coulombic efficiency seemed to stabilize at values >99% from the fifth cycle