Ni-Composite Microencapsulated Graphite as the Negative Electrode in Lithium-Ion Batteries II: Electrochemical Impedance and Self-Discharge Studies

Electrochemical impedance and self-discharge studies were carried out to investigate lithium intercalation into bare and Ni-coated KS10 graphite. Values of the charge-transfer resistances, exchange current densities, surface film resistances, and lithium-ion diffusion coefficients as functions of the state of charge (SOC) all favored the 10 wt% Ni composite KS10 graphite over bare KS10 graphite when these materials were used as the negative electrode in a Li-ion cell with mixed organic electrolyte. The charge-transfer resistances were always lower and gave rise to between 26 and 27% larger exchange current densities, which increased from 137 to 614 mA/g as the SOC increased. The surface film resistances for Ni composite KS10 were between 0.02 and 0.05 $Ømega$ g, slightly smaller than those of 0.03 to 0.08 $Ømega$ g for bare KS10, and both surface film resistances decreased with increasing SOC. The lithium-ion diffusion coefficients were always slightly larger, ranging between 1.09 × 10 -9 and 6.7 × 10 -9 cm 2 /s. Results from the self-discharge study also favored the 10 wt% Ni composite KS10, which exhibited less capacity loss over a 10 day period compared to bare KS10.