LI-ION BATTERY WITH NANOFIBER CARBON COMPOSITE ANODE

Low cost, high performance carbon fiber anodes to enable a new generation of high-power lithium-ion batteries is proposed. A vapor grown carbon fiber, called Pyrograf-IIITM carbon fiber, with size and morphology which can be varied over a wide range will be optimized for anode utilization. The relationship between the carbon fiber structural parameters and its electrochemical performance is addressed in the Phase I effort, with the objective of demonstrating substantial improvement over existing carbons used for this purpose. We will investigate effects of fiber crystallinity, degree of graphene plane orientation, surface morphology, aspect ratio, and density of edges L/L on the electrochemical performance of the carbon fibers in terms of capacity for lithium intercalation, rate of intercalation, first cycle irreversibility, and cycle life.