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The effects of structure and morphology on lithium storage in single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles were studied by electrochemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. SWNTs were chemically etched to variable lengths and were intercalated with Li. The reversible Li storage capacity increased from LiC(6) in close-end SWNTs to LiC(3) after etching, which is twice the value observed in intercalated graphite. All the nanotubes became metallic upon intercalation of Li, with the density of states at the Fermi level increasing with increasing Li concentration. The enhanced capacity is attributed to Li diffusion into the interior of the SWNTs through the opened ends and sidewall defects.

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The first systematic study on alloy formation on well‐defined nanostructured materialshas been conducted by these authors. Nanostructured silicon and germanium materials were reacted with lithium metal by solid‐state chemistry and electrochemical methods, in which nanocrystalline Si (unlike bulk material) forms Li–Si alloys already at room temperature. The Li–Si(Ge) alloys have interesting electrochemical properties, which make them attractive as anode material in lithium batteries.