Fabrication of mesophase pitch carbon thin film electrodes and the effect of heat treatment on electrochemical lithium insertion and extraction

Mesophase pitch carbon (MPC) is one of the possible carbonaceous materials as an anode for rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The MPC thin film electrodes were fabricated by modifying reticulated-nickel substrates with a quinoline-soluble part of MPC. We have studied the electrochemical insertion/extraction properties of lithium ion into/from the MPC-based carbon, focusing on the effects of heat-treatment temperature (700-1000°C). Potential excursion experiments show that there are two different mechanisms for extraction of lithium ions; one can be attributed to deintercalation from a graphitized part and the other to extraction from the ungraphitized part of the carbon film.