B.P. Thapaliya, S.M. Mahurin, S. Dai
Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
United States
Keywords: electrochemical graphitization, molten salts, carbon dioxide, graphite
Summary:
Graphite is a critical material, recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, for its critical role as the anode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As the demand for high-purity graphite surges in response to the expanding battery market, synthetic graphite has become the material of choice due to its superior purity. However, conventional graphite synthesis is highly energy-intensive, relying on extreme heat treatments of carbon precursors at temperatures exceeding 3000 °C to achieve graphitization. This study introduces an innovative approach to graphitization that operates at significantly reduced temperatures. The method leverages the electrochemical conversion of waste/unconventional carbon precursors facilitated by cathodic electrochemical polarization in molten salts. This process enables the transformation of waste carbon precursors into a high-quality graphitic structure. By minimizing energy requirements compared to traditional techniques, this novel methodology represents a sustainable and energy-efficient solution for graphite production.