The performances of two unconventional non-graphitic carbon materials as an
anode for lithium ion battery were examined to correlate to their structur
e. Fullerene soot after extracted fullerene and pyrolytic product of ethyle
ne dichloride both heat-treated at 2400 degrees C, carried relatively thick
turbostratic layers of small hexagonal planes to form periphery of hollow
spheres. Such structural characteristics provided the charge / discharge ch
aracteristics such as very lower discharge capacity, lower Coulombic effici
ency and short plateau around 1.0V at the discharge, which are very close t
o those of carbons hear-treated around 1000-1400 degrees C. Mechanisms of l
ithium insertion into non-graphitic carbons is discussed in relation to the
ir graphitic structure to explain no formation of C6Li intercalation to the
turbostratic stacking of small carbon planes, very high reactivity to of c
arbon edge highly reduced lithium ion, poor Coulombic efficiency and cyclea
bility. No charge in the hollow eliminates the characteristic charge / disc
harge profile of some hard carbons calcined at 1000-1400 degrees C.