Graphite/Graphene Composites from the Recovered Spent Zn/Carbon Primary Cell for the High-Performance Anode of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Exploring electrochemically chapped graphite/graphene composites derived from the bulk carbon rod of the spent Zn/carbon primary cell is for the advanced high-capacity lithium-ion battery anode. It is found that the synthesized graphitic carbon has grain boundary defects with multilayered exfoliation. Such material exhibits an average specific capacity of 458 mA h g^–1 at 0.2 C, which is higher than the theoretical specific capacity (372 mA h g^–1) of graphite. The differential specific capacity calculations also show no significant difference in lithiation and delithiation potentials for the exfoliated sample at the low voltage. However, two additional plateaus have also been observed at ∼1.2 and 2.5 V, which confirms the formation of the LiC₃ phase similar to lithiation of graphene. Hence, the superior lithiation ability and thecycling stability of defected graphite/graphene flakes may be useful for the sustainable development of next-generation high energy lithium-ion batteries. Also, waste recovery tends to reduce the risk of environmental pollution and the cost of raw materials.