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Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Characterization of Electrode Materials for Lithium Ion and Sodium Ion Batteries Using Synchrotron Radiation Techniques
Published on: November 11, 2013
A comparative study of graphite electrodes using the co-intercalation phenomenon for rechargeable Li, Na and K
Haegyeom Kim1, Gabin Yoon2, Kyungmi Lim1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM), Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 599, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Here, we demonstrate that graphite can serve as a versatile electrode for various rechargeable battery types by reversibly accommodating solvated alkali ions (such as K, Na, and Li) through co-intercalation in its galleries. The co-intercalation of alkali ions is observed to occur via staging reactions. Notably, their insertion behaviors, including their specific capacity, are remarkably similar regardless of the alkali ion species despite the different solubility limits of K, Na, and Li ions in graphite. Nevertheless, the insertion potentials of the solvated alkali ions differ from each other and are observed to be correlated with the interlayer distance in the intercalated graphite gallery.
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