Enhanced saturation lithium composition in ball-milled single-walled carbon nanotubes

The effects of processing on the structure and morphology of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and their electrochemical intercalation with lithiu m were investigated. Purified SWNTs were processed by impact ball-milling a nd were electrochemically intercalated with lithium. The reversible saturat ion Li composition increased from Li1.7C6 in purified SWNTs to Li2.7C6 afte r 10 min of milling. The irreversible capacity decreased from Li3.2C6 to Li 1.3C6. Electron microscopy, Raman and X-ray diffraction measurements indica ted that ball-milling induced disorder within the bundles and fractured the nanotubes. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.