Mechanism of lithium insertion in carbons pyrolyzed at low temperature

Carbons pyrolyzed at temperature ranging from 500 degrees C to 1 000 degree s C are promising materials for high-energy density lithium batteries. Thes e carbons not only possess a capacity higher than the theoretical value of graphite, but also display a different electrochemical behavior from that o f graphite. Mechanisms now available for this phenomenon are reviewed after the presentation of mechanism of lithium intercalation in graphite. Based on the recent research, a new model for lithium insertion in carbons pyroly zed at low temperature and some ideas for further study are proposed.