Effect of Catalyst Preparation Method on the Characteristics of Carbon Nanospheres as Anode Materials of Lithium Secondary Batteries

Abstract

Carbon nano-spheres (CNSs) were synthesized from commercial activated carbons and cooking oil as carbon precursors using simple pyrolytic process and then were used as anode materials of lithium secondary batteries. Prior to the synthesis of CNSs, a series of Fe catalysts supported on commercial activated carbons were prepared by two different methods, namely impregnations and adsorptions. The effect of catalyst preparation method on the characteristics of CNSs were then studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and BET surface area measurements. Preliminary electrochemical measurements of assynthesized CNTs were carried out using cyclic voltammetry instruments at constant scan rate to see the mechanism of Li-ion insertion and extraction into/from CNSs structures during cycle tests.