Gas Adsorption Analysis for Quantifying the Edge Sites of Graphite

A study conducted by Hideaki Oka et al., in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation was published in the Carbon.

The edge plane exposed on the surface of carbon materials is the active site that determines their properties. When graphite is used as the negative electrode in lithium-ion batteries, the edge plane acts as an access point for lithium intercalation/de-intercalation. However, because of the low specific surface area and amorphous carbon coating of graphite particles, accurately estimating the number of edge planes is challenging.

Therefore, we propose a technique for determining graphite edge planes based on the stepwise adsorption of Kr onto the hexagonal carbon network surface. The number of edge planes estimated by gas adsorption strongly correlated with charge-transfer resistance. This edge plane determination technique would be applicable not only to graphite but also to highly crystalline carbon materials with an exposed hexagonal carbon network surface.

Title: Gas Adsorption Analysis for Quantifying the Edge Sites of Graphite
Authors: Oka, H., Setoyama, N., Matsuhara, S.
Journal Name: Carbon
Published: September 25, 2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2024.119664