Carbon-Based Negative Electrodes of Lithium-Ion Batteries Obtained from Residua of the Petroleum Industry

Abstract

Although the present State-of-the-Art on materials for the negative electrode of lithiumion batteries covers a vast number of solids, the most commercially successful option is still based on carbon (Sawai et al., 1994; Dahn et al. 1995, Azuma et al, 1999). Nevertheless, the scientific literature offers continuous improvements in both performance and economy of production of different carbon forms (Duclaux et al. 1999, Wang et al., 1999). In this way, positive economic effects may result from the utilization of residues or intermediates form crude oil refining (Alcántara et al. 1999, 2000). Petroleum cokes, and mesocarbons were commonly treated as side products of limited or none interest. Electrodes for steel making and aluminum electrolytic production, and fuel coke for cement production were the most relevant uses that consumed large amounts of these residua. However production is always above consumption and this imbalance leads to stocking and environmental problems. The high added value that is given to these products in an application requiring small weights of material such as high-performance batteries is particularly interesting.