Carsten Schwandt

Abstract:

The production of nano-structured carbon materials is a subject of large scientific and technological interest. A less prominent way of accomplishing this is by the conversion of graphite directly into nanocarbon through the application of molten salt electrochemistry. In this method, alkali metal ions from a molten chloride salt are intercalated into cathodically polarised graphite at a high rate, such that the graphite microstructure is destabilised and various nano-structured carbon species are formed which then detach from the graphite bulk. However, due to the heterogeneous product composition and the low yields, this method has hitherto been regarded as inferior. This presentation will summarise research and development work that may have the potential to change this view. By rigorously optimising the process parameters and implementing a novel type of process control, it has now become possible to prepare in gramme quantities nano-structured carbon material with nanotube contents as high as 70 to 80%. Through a variation of the process, it is also feasible to prepare carbon species filled with tin metal. A key application of this material is as the anode in lithium ion batteries. A first set of independently performed successful battery tests will be presented.