32
3 Interaction of Molten Salts with Graphite
Fig. 3.9 a Second microstructure feature of the graphite–LiCl mixture heated at the rate of 80 °C
min −1 to 1250 °C. The microstructure comprises of corroded graphitic sheets. b TEM micrograph
from typical particles which could be observed in the heat-treated powders. The inset in (b) is
the selected area diffraction pattern recorded on the particle, reproduced from Ref. [14], copyright
2019, with permission from Elsevier
2C + Li 2 O + 1.5O 2 = Li 2 C 2 O 4
(3.4)
The pitting corrosion can also result in cutting of the graphitic sheets into
nanosheets. The downer inset presented in Fig. 3.9 is a high-magnification micrograph taken on corroded graphite edge sites, from which carbon nanosheets can be
released.
The third microstructure which is able to be identified in the heat-treated powders
is displayed in Fig. 3.10. The central image in this figure is a SEM micrograph
displaying the carbon nanorods which are grown on the surface of graphite particles.
The inset shown in the figure is a HRTEM micrograph taken from a nanorod with
diameter around 10 nm grown on the graphite substrate. This examination aids the
results found by Alekseev et al. [32, 33] who discovered carbon nanorods with
lengths of around 2 µm in the electrolyte used in large-scale fabrication of metallic
lithium (Fig. 3.11). According to those studies, the electrolysis cells were made up
of graphite anodes and steel cathodes immersed in the eutectic LiCl–KCl.
The electroless formation of carbon nanorods in molten LiCl (Fig. 3.10) can be
interpreted as the following. The partial oxidation of graphite, taking place through
the heat treatment, brings on the formation of carbon monoxide which then is catalytically decomposed to form nanorods. In essence, it has been established that alkali
salts are effective catalysts to be used forth decomposition of molecules which contain
carbon atoms into nanorods [34]. The formation of carbon nanorods by the catalytic
decomposition of carbon monoxide has been disclosed to take effect adequately at
around 600 °C [35].
3 Interaction of Molten Salts with Graphite
Fig. 3.9 a Second microstructure feature of the graphite–LiCl mixture heated at the rate of 80 °C
min −1 to 1250 °C. The microstructure comprises of corroded graphitic sheets. b TEM micrograph
from typical particles which could be observed in the heat-treated powders. The inset in (b) is
the selected area diffraction pattern recorded on the particle, reproduced from Ref. [14], copyright
2019, with permission from Elsevier
2C + Li 2 O + 1.5O 2 = Li 2 C 2 O 4
(3.4)
The pitting corrosion can also result in cutting of the graphitic sheets into
nanosheets. The downer inset presented in Fig. 3.9 is a high-magnification micrograph taken on corroded graphite edge sites, from which carbon nanosheets can be
released.
The third microstructure which is able to be identified in the heat-treated powders
is displayed in Fig. 3.10. The central image in this figure is a SEM micrograph
displaying the carbon nanorods which are grown on the surface of graphite particles.
The inset shown in the figure is a HRTEM micrograph taken from a nanorod with
diameter around 10 nm grown on the graphite substrate. This examination aids the
results found by Alekseev et al. [32, 33] who discovered carbon nanorods with
lengths of around 2 µm in the electrolyte used in large-scale fabrication of metallic
lithium (Fig. 3.11). According to those studies, the electrolysis cells were made up
of graphite anodes and steel cathodes immersed in the eutectic LiCl–KCl.
The electroless formation of carbon nanorods in molten LiCl (Fig. 3.10) can be
interpreted as the following. The partial oxidation of graphite, taking place through
the heat treatment, brings on the formation of carbon monoxide which then is catalytically decomposed to form nanorods. In essence, it has been established that alkali
salts are effective catalysts to be used forth decomposition of molecules which contain
carbon atoms into nanorods [34]. The formation of carbon nanorods by the catalytic
decomposition of carbon monoxide has been disclosed to take effect adequately at
around 600 °C [35].