What is Spherical Graphite and Why is it Important ?

The negative electrode material is one of the core materials of lithium-ion batteries. It determines the rate performance of lithium-ion batteries. It also affects the initial charge and discharge efficiency and the battery cycle stability performance. Natural graphite negative electrode material is made by natural flake graphite through processes such as crushing, spheroidization, grading, purification, and surface modification. It has the advantages of low price, large storage capacity, safety and non-toxicity, and good conductivity. Among them, spherical graphite has the advantages of good conductivity, high crystallinity, low cost, low and flat charge and discharge potential, long cycle life, and green environmental protection. It has gradually become a replacement product for negative electrode materials used in lithium-ion battery production.

Why Use Spherical Graphite?

Natural graphite has good conductivity, high crystallinity, and good layered structure. It is the most widely used negative electrode material for lithium-ion batteries. Graphite negative electrodes generally use natural flake graphite, but there are several disadvantages:

• Flake graphite powder has a large specific surface area. It has a great influence on the initial charge and discharge efficiency of the negative electrode.
• The layered structure of graphite means Li+ can only intercalate from the edges, resulting in slower, uneven diffusion and low capacity.
• The interlayer spacing of graphite is small, which increases the diffusion resistance of Li+. And the rate performance is poor. During fast charging, Li+ is easy to deposit on the surface of graphite to form lithium dendrites. This will lead to serious safety hazards.

To solve the above problems, graphite needs to be modified. To optimize the performance of negative electrode materials, one of the main modification methods is spheroidization. Spheroidized natural graphite has a smaller specific surface area and higher tapped density. This results in higher first Coulombic efficiency, reversible capacity, and better cycling stability.

How to Prepare Spherical Graphite

Spherical graphite is typically made from high-quality, high-carbon natural flake graphite. Advanced processing techniques modify the graphite surface. This produces graphite products with varying fineness and an elliptical spherical shape.

The processing method involves using mechanical equipment to grind natural flake graphite powder into an appropriate particle size. Then, the powder is treated with air pressure from a honeycomb mill to de-corner the particles. This process shapes the particles into elliptical or spheroidal forms. The classification device separates the spherical particles from the fine powder detached during the de-cornering process, resulting in normally distributed spherical graphite.

Conclusion

Spherical graphite has emerged as a critical material in the clean energy transition, particularly in lithium-ion batteries powering electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Its unique spherical shape, high purity, and superior conductivity make it indispensable for next-generation battery technologies. Moreover, as demand for sustainable energy solutions grows, advancements in spherical graphite production and processing will play a pivotal role in enhancing battery performance, reducing costs, and supporting global decarbonization efforts. Therefore, the future of energy storage and electrification heavily relies on innovations in this remarkable material, positioning spherical graphite at the heart of modern industrial and environmental progress.

Epic Powder

Epic Powder, 20+ years of work experience in the ultrafine powder industry. Actively promote the future development of ultra-fine powder, focusing on crushing, grinding, classifying and modification process of ultra-fine powder.  We have many graphite grinding engineering projects overseas. Contact us for a free consultation and customized solutions! Our expert team is dedicated to providing high-quality products and services to maximize the value of your powder processing. Epic Powder—Your Trusted Powder Processing Expert !