Improved carbon anode properties: pretreatment of particles in polyelectrolyte solution

It is shown that the properties of carbon anode can be significantly influenced if the carbon particles are pretreated in an appropriate polyelectrolyte solution. Various polyelectrolytes, such as gelatine, different polyanilines and cellulose have been tested. The total content of the polyelectrolyte in the final anode is between 1–2 wt.%. No classical binder is needed to prepare mechanically and electrochemically stable anodes. The polylelectrolyte pretreatment decreases the first cycle(s) capacity loss(es), probably due to formation of a more uniform passive film, the growth of which is governed by the presence of polyelectrolyte molecules. It is shown that the efficiency of polyelectrolyte pretreatment depends on the type of polyelectrolyte used, on the concentration, Bloom value, and on pH of the polyelectrolyte solution used in the pretreatment procedure and on the electrolyte used to prepare the electrochemical cell.