Mechanism of lithium storage in low temperature carbon

Through measurement of the intensity of the EPR signal of carbon anodes at different discharge and charge potentials, a micropore mechanism is suggested for the storage of lithium in low temperature carbons (LTCs), and it is further confirmed by results from the addition of pore-genic agent and introduction of crosslinker DVB into addition polymers PAN and P(4-VP). The size of micropores acting effectively as ‘reservoirs’ for lithium storage is suggested to be below 100 nm. The phenomena, which are characteristic in LTCs such as voltage hysteresis and capacity fading, are explained through the suggested mechanism.