Electrochemical and physical chemical properties of sp2 carbon microrods

Abstract We investigated sp2 carbon microrods resulting from the reaction of lithium with hexachlorobenzene. The material exhibits high surface area (200–340 m2/g, depending on heat treatment) and a reversible lithium storage capacity in excess of 500 mA h/g. The discharge/charge behavior of the material resembles that of high specific capacity non-graphitic carbon. Without distinguishable plateaus, the reversible intercalation of lithium occurs at a broad potential window below 1 V vs. Li/Li+. A possible mechanism for the rod formation, based on SEM results, is briefly considered.