Structural and electrochemical properties of lithiated conical carbon nanotubes as anode materials for lithium ion accumulating systems

Interaction of conical carbon nanotubes with lithium during their electrochemical treatment was studied by galvanostatic measurements. The presence of reversible and irreversible reactions during the Li insertion into conical carbon nanotubes was established. The structural changes occurring in the conical walls of the conical carbon nanotubes in consequence of the lithium intercalation were investigated by using X-ray diffraction. The results obtained show that the lithiation of conical carbon nanotubes is partially reversible and leads to a change in the diffraction peak profile (2θ = 26°) corresponding to the interplanar distance in conical carbon nanotubes. Such changes are associated with the lithium insertion into the interplanar spaces of conical carbon nanotubes.