Initial Electrochemical Insertion/Desertion of Lithium into Hard Carbon

The initial irreversible capacity (IIC) of a hard carbon during the charge/discharge reaction is strongly affected by both the initial irreversible capacity on the carbon surface $(IIC_S)$ and the initial irreversible lithium insertion into carbon $(IIC_B)$. The initial coulombic efficiency of the insertion and the desertion of lithium (IIE) can be used as a performance to classify $IIC_B$ of the carbon. The $IIC_B$ was proportional to the specific discharge capacity with a slope, $IIE^{-1}$ - 1. The IIE of hard carbon had four regions. $IIE_A$ for the region of 0~95 mAh/g of $Q_{D1}$ was 60.2%. $IIE_B$ and $IIE_C$ for the regions of 95~172 mAh/g and 172~308 mAh/g had 84.9% and 91.5%, respectively. $IIE_D$ was appeared above 308 mAh/g. But, the $IIE_D$ was reduced to 82.1% compared with $IIE_C$. These IIE might be corresponding to lithium desertion from carbon at the region of 0~172 mAh/g range, lithium desertion from the micropore of carbon at the region of 172~308 mAh/g range, and to the lithium stripping of the plated lithium for the region above 308 mAh/g, respectively.