Project Description

The overall goal of this project is to develop advanced anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIB) from lignite-derived carbon feedstock. Specific objectives include (1) prepare silicon carbon (Si-C) composite anode materials for LIBs using lignite-derived pitch and synthetic graphite (SG) as the main feedstock; (2) identify the optimal pitch and SG for LIB anode applications from a variety of sources produced by a co-sponsor; (3) develop a low-cost and scalable process to make porous and spherical Si-C composite anode materials; (4) evaluate the battery performance of the new Si-C composite anodes and compare with a similar commercial anode as the benchmark; (5) investigate the feasibility of making the Si-C composite anodes at pilot scale; and (6) evaluate the economic and commercial potential of the technology.

Project Benefits

The anticipated benefits of this project are (1) the unique high-quality lignite-derived pitch and synthetic graphite will be suitable feedstocks for high-value carbon-based LIB anode materials such as Si–C composite anodes; (2) the current technology of preparing Si–C anode materials will be advanced toward a low-cost and high-performance product; (3) the project will accelerate the commercialization of production of high-quality lignite-derived pitch and SG through opening a high-value LIB market; and (4) the domestic and international marketability of U.S. coals and of domestic production of LIBs will be increased.

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