Chapter 2 - Applications of fluorinated carbon materials to primary and secondary lithium batteries

Abstract

Reaction of carbon materials with elemental fluorine yields two kinds of intercalation compounds: graphite fluorides, (CF)n and (C2F)n, and fluorine–graphite intercalation compound, CXF. Graphite fluorides with puckered graphene layers to which fluorine atoms are covalently bonded are synthesized by the fluorination of various carbon materials at high temperatures. Graphite fluoride, (CF)n was used as the cathode material of the primary lithium battery, as solid lubricant, as water repellent, and so on. Among them, the most important application is the use as a cathode material in a primary lithium battery with metallic lithium anode and organic solvents. The present chapter deals with recent results of the synthesis, structures, and electrochemical behavior of highly fluorinated graphite as a cathode of primary lithium battery and those of surface-fluorinated graphites and petroleum cokes as anodes of secondary lithium battery. Applications of fluorinated carbon materials include secondary (rechargeable) lithium batteries, which use carbonaceous anodes, transition metal oxide cathodes, and organic electrolyte solutions. The influence of cointercalated HF on the discharge behavior of highly fluorinated graphite as a cathode of primary lithium battery is discussed in the chapter. A detailed analysis of charge/discharge behavior of surface-fluorinated carbon materials as anodes of secondary lithium battery is also provided.