The Graphite Anode Battery
The graphite anode battery is the most important element of lithium-ion batteries that power everything from electric vehicles to grid-scale energy storage. It's the largest component of Li-ion cells by weight, consuming 45% or more of the battery's total material volume. Graphite is the most cost-effective and high-energy density material available to serve as an anode in Li-ion batteries.
During the charging cycle of an electronic device, lithium ions are released from the cathode to the anode via a separator. The anode then stores the lithium ions by forming a network of carbon atoms to produce electricity. Graphite is the ideal material to serve as an anode in lithium-ion batteries because it is the best at storing and handling lithium ions.
While there are several alternative materials being studied with the goal of improving anode performance, graphite remains the most suitable material to serve as anodes in Li-ion batteries. In addition to providing an electrochemically active surface for lithium ions, graphite is inexpensive and stable at high temperatures.
As demand for Li-ion batteries continues to grow exponentially, manufacturers will require a lot of anode graphite. Currently, manufacturers are gravitating toward natural flake graphite rather than synthetic because it requires less energy to convert to spherical graphite compared with the Acheson furnace process used in the production of synthetic graphite. Moreover, natural flake graphite is considered a safer product in the event of an accident because it does not produce toxic gases in the case of a fire.
