Electrochemical and physical chemical properties of sp2 carbon microrods

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.