High capacity carbon anode for Li-ion battery: A theoretical explanation Original Research Article

Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) heat-treated below 1000°C have discharge higher than the theoretical value of graphite, 372 Ah kg−1. The high capacity has been explained on the basis of cavity model, which lithium species are not only intercalated in carbon layers but also doped in cavities, derived from structural parameters of MCMB. As for the theoretical values corresponding to the intercalation capacity and total capacity were in good agreement with each capacity. The cavity size and distribution was characterized based on the Fourier analysis of 002 diffraction profiles on a XRD. This analysis revealed that the high capacity MCMBs have cavities with the size of 0.5–1.5 nm.