Improving the Rate Capability of Unburned Carbon from Oil-Fired Fly Ash as an Anode Material in High-Power Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

Unburned carbon is an industrial waste product of oil-fired fly ash. Recycled ground unburned carbon with an average particle size of 5 μm after heat treatment at 2500°C displayed an first coulombic efficiency of approximately 89.8% at a charge and discharge rate of 0.1 C. The discharging capacity of this type of carbon was 293.7 mAhg-1, and its capacity retention was approximately 94.7% after 50 cycles. However, the first coulombic efficiency of ground unburned carbon receiving nitric acid treatment after heat treatment increased to 91.1%, its discharging capacity increased to 318.6 mAhg-1, and its capacity retention increased to 98.5% after 50 cycles. Rate capability tests show that the unburned carbon after heat treatment exhibited a higher capacity in the lower C-rate region (0.2~3 C) at a 0.2 C rate charge and variable C-rates discharge. However, unburned carbon with nitric acid treatment is a suitable material for the higher C-rate region (5~10 C). Unburned carbon after heat treatment exhibited a higher capacity in the lower C-rate region (0.2~0.5 C) at the same C-rate charge and discharge.