Engineered carbonaceous materials and power sources using these materials

Abstract

An engineered carbonaceous material (ECM) comprising a mixture of synthetic graphite and one or more other graphite, such as natural flake graphite, natural vein graphite, and/or amorphous graphite. The objects are also achieved by an ECM comprising a mixture of expanded graphite and one or more other graphite materials, such as natural flake graphite, natural vein graphite, amorphous graphite and/or synthetic graphite. The ECM is preferably mixed with 0.01 to 20.0 wt. % MnO 2 to create a battery active material. The mixtures may be made by either co-blending or co-grinding the graphites together. An electrochemical cell incorporating the material is also contemplated.

1 . An engineered carbonaceous material comprising a mixture of synthetic graphite and one or more graphite materials selected from the group consisting of natural flake graphite, natural vein graphite, and amorphous graphite.  
     
     
         2 . An engineered carbonaceous material comprising a mixture of expanded graphite and one or more graphite materials selected from the group consisting of natural flake graphite, natural vein graphite, amorphous graphite, and synthetic graphite.  
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 1  were in the mixture comprises between 0.1 and 99.9 wt. % synthetic graphite.  
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 2  were in the mixture comprises between 0.1 and 99.9 wt. % expanded graphite.  
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 1  further comprising 0.01 to 20.0 wt. % MnO 2 .  
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 2  further comprising 0.01 to 20.0 wt. % MnO 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The material of  claim 1  further comprising 0.01 to 20.0 wt. % of a conductive electrode active material.  
     
     
         8 . The material of  claim 2  further comprising 0.01 to 20.0 wt. % of a conductive electrode active material.  
     
     
         9 . The material of  claim 1  wherein the graphite has a particle size between 3 micrometers and 90 micrometers.  
     
     
         10 . The material of  claim 2  wherein the graphite has a particle size between 3 micrometers and 90 micrometers.  
     
     
         11 . The material of  claim 1  wherein the graphite as a purity of between 90.0 and 99.9% LOI.  
     
     
         12 . The material of  claim 2  wherein the graphite as a purity of between 90.0 and 99.9% LOI.  
     
     
         13 . A method of making a material according to  claim 1  comprising co-grinding the graphite components.  
     
     
         14 . The method of making a material according to  claim 1  comprising co-blending the graphite components.  
     
     
         15 . The method of making a material according to  claim 2  comprising co-grinding the graph components.  
     
     
         16 . The method of making a material according to  claim 2  comprising co-blending the graphite components.  
     
     
         17 . The method of making a material according to  claim 5  comprising co-grinding the graphite materials.  
     
     
         18 . The method of making a material according to  claim 5  comprising co-blending the graphite materials.  
     
     
         19 . An electrochemical cell having an electrolyte, a negative electrode and a positive electrode, the positive electrode comprising a mixture including a carbonaceous material as set forth in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 . An electrochemical cell having an electrolyte, a negative electrode and a positive electrode, the positive electrode comprising a mixture including a carbonaceous material as set forth in  claim 2 .  
     
     
         21 . An electrochemical cell having an electrolyte, a negative electrode and a positive electrode, the positive electrode comprising a mixture including a carbonaceous material as set forth in  claim 5.