Chapter 18 - Battery application of graphite intercalation compounds

Abstract

Graphite intercalation compounds are very useful for battery applications because of the high electrical conductivity and their two-dimensional layered structure, which enables further intercalation of foreign ions such as lithium ions. Therefore, they have been used for the electrode materials of batteries such as lithium primary battery, lithium-ion battery, alkaline battery, and thermo cells. The intercalated species include alkaline metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, etc. to form donor-type intercalation compounds. Among them, it is well known that lithium-intercalated graphite has been used as an anode of lithium-ion battery. Halogens, acids, oxides, etc. form acceptor-type intercalation compounds and some of them have been tested as cathode-active materials of lithium primary battery and electrode material of an alkaline cell. This chapter summarizes recent advances on the preparation and electrochemical properties of covalent-type graphite intercalation compounds and residual carbons prepared via their thermal decomposition. The structure of GO is discussed. The structure and reactivity of carbons prepared from covalent-type graphite intercalation compounds are described in the chapter. The electrochemical properties of graphite intercalation compounds are also detailed.