Although, in the carbon family, graphite is the most thermodynamically stable allotrope, conversion of other carbon allotropes, even amorphous carbons, into graphite is extremely hard. We report a simple electrochemical route for the graphitization of amorphous carbons through cathodic polarization in molten CaCl at temperatures of about 1100 K, which generates porous graphite comprising petaloid nanoflakes. This nanostructured graphite allows fast and reversible intercalation/deintercalation of anions, promising a superior cathode material for batteries. In a Pyr TFSI ionic liquid, it exhibits a specific discharge capacity of 65 and 116 mAh g at a rate of 1800 mA g when charged to 5.0 and 5.25 V vs. Li/Li , respectively. The capacity remains fairly stable during cycling and decreases by only about 8 % when the charge/discharge rate is increased to 10000 mA g during cycling between 2.25 and 5.0 V.

Although, in the carbon family,graphite is the most thermodynamically stable allotrope,c onversion of other carbon allotropes,e ven amorphous carbons,i nto graphite is extremely hard. We report as imple electrochemical route for the graphitization of amorphous carbons through cathodic polarization in molten CaCl 2 at temperatures of about 1100 K, which generates porous graphite comprising petaloid nanoflakes.This nanostructured graphite allows fast and reversible intercalation/deintercalation of anions,p romising as uperior cathode material for batteries.I naPyr 14 TFSI ionic liquid, it exhibits aspecific discharge capacity of 65 and 116 mAh g À1 at ar ate of 1800 mA g À1 when charged to 5.0 and 5.25 Vv s. Li/ Li + ,r espectively.T he capacity remains fairly stable during cycling and decreases by only about 8% when the charge/ discharge rate is increased to 10000 mA g À1 during cycling between 2.25 and 5.0 V.Supportinginformation and the ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under http://dx.