Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making carbon coated graphitic anode powders for use in batteries including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries wherein the process includes a side product isotropic pitch for use as a precursor in other products and more preferably, as a coating material for other powder or particle products. The process includes the steps of solvent extraction of volatile materials from high volatile material green coke powder. When a desirable amount of the volatile materials have been extracted, the solvent strength is altered to cause some of the volatile materials to precipitate on the powder particles to coat the same. The coated and solvent-extracted particles are then separated from the solvent and oxidatively stabilized, then carbonized and preferably graphitized. The volatile materials remaining in the solvent are valuable and are recovered for use in other processes and other products.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making carbon coated graphitic anode powders for use in batteries including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries wherein the process includes a side product isotropic pitch for use as a precursor in other products and more preferably, as a coating material for other powder or particle products. The process includes the steps of solvent extraction of volatile materials from high volatile material green coke powder. When a desirable amount of the volatile materials have been extracted, the solvent strength is altered to cause some of the volatile materials to precipitate on the powder particles to coat the same. The coated and solvent-extracted particles are then separated from the solvent and oxidatively stabilized, then carbonized and preferably graphitized. The volatile materials remaining in the solvent are valuable and are recovered for use in other processes and other products.

Abstract: This invention relates to lithium-ion batteries and cathode powders for making lithium-ion batteries where the cathode powder comprises a blend or mixture of at least one lithium transition metal poly-anion and with one or more lithium transition-metal oxide powders. A number of different lithium transition-metal oxides are suitable, especially formulations that include nickel, manganese and cobalt. The preferred lithium transition metal poly-anion is carbon-containing lithium vanadium phosphate. Batteries using the mixture or blend of these powders have been found to have high specific capacity, especially based on volume, high cycle life, substantially improved safety issues as compared to lithium transition-metal oxides, per se, and an attractive electrode potential profile.

Abstract: A method for the production of carbon particles comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein the precursor material has a volatile matter content of from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. %. A method for the production of electrode materials comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein said electrode material has an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic structure. A carbon particle having an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a degree of stabilization of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic structure.

Abstract: Methods and compositions relate to anode powders for use in batteries. The powders may provide limited surface area per volume of powder material. Further, the powders may include limited amounts of particles below a threshold size within a particle size distribution. Some embodiments utilize regular or anode grade petroleum coke as a precursor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a battery cathode material with improved properties in lithium ion batteries. In one embodiment, the process comprises synthesizing a lithium metal polyanionic (LMP) powder. The process further comprises precipitating a carbonaceous coating on to the LMP powder to form a coated LMP powder. Additionally, the process comprises stabilizing and then carbonizing the coated LMP powder to produce the battery cathode material. The charge capacity, coulombic efficiency, and cycle life of the battery cathode material is better than those of the uncoated LMP powder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an improved cathode powder for making lithium ion batteries wherein the powder comprises lithium, vanadium and a polyanion. The process includes forming a solution-suspension of the precursors, which include vanadium pentoxide, with a reducing agent, a solvent, and a carbon-residue-forming material. The reducing agent causes the vanadium in vanadium pentoxide to reduce from V5+ to V3+. The solution-suspension is heated in an inert environment to drive the synthesis of the LVP (Li3V2(PO4)3) such that the carbon-residue-forming material is also oxidized to precipitate in and on the LVP forming carbon-containing LVP or CCLVP. The liquids are separated from the solids and the dry powder is heated to a second higher temperature to drive the crystallization of the product.

Abstract: A method for the production of carbon particles comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein the precursor material has a volatile matter content of from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. %. A method for the production of electrode materials comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein said electrode material has an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic. structure. A carbon particle having an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a degree of stabilization of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic structure.

Abstract: A solvating component for a solvated mesophase pitch. The solvated component includes a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons having boiling points in the atmospheric equivalent boiling point range of about 285° to about 500° C. (about 550° F.-932° F.). At least 80% of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbons are aromatic as characterized by carbon 13 NMR. The aromatic hydrocarbons are selected from a group consisting of aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 aromatic rings, substituted aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 aromatic rings wherein said substituents are alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbons, hydroaromatic compounds having 2 to 5 rings, substituted aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 rings wherein said substituents are alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbons, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A solvating component for a solvated mesophase pitch. The solvated component includes a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons having boiling points in the atmospheric equivalent boiling point range of about 285° to about 500° C. (about 550° F.-932° F.). At least 80% of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbons are aromatic as characterized by carbon 13 NMR. The aromatic hydrocarbons are selected from a group consisting of aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 aromatic rings, substituted aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 aromatic rings wherein said substituents are alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbons, hydroaromatic compounds having 2 to 5 rings, substituted aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 rings wherein said substituents are alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbons, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A solvating component for a solvated mesophase pitch. The solvated component includes a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons having boiling points in the atmospheric equivalent boiling point range of about 285° to about 460° C. (about 550° F.-932° F.). At least 80% of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbons are aromatic as characterized by carbon 13 NMR. The aromatic hydrocarbons are selected from a group consisting of aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 aromatic rings, substituted aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 aromatic rings wherein said substituents are alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbons, hydroaromatic compounds having 2 to 5 rings, substituted aromatic compounds having 2 to 5 rings wherein said substituents are alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbons, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing a solvated isotropic pitch having a fluid temperature at least 40.degree. C. lower than the same pitch in the non-solvated state. Additionally, the present invention provides a solvated isotropic pitch which may be formed into carbon artifacts which do not require oxidative stabilization prior to carbonization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining a very clean mesophase pitch from isotropic pitch. This invention utilizes a solvent fractionation process which does not involve the process steps, yield loss and waste generation associated with fluxing and filtering the isotropic pitch. Additionally, this invention provides a liquid/liquid extraction process that avoids the solids handling and the high temperatures and pressures of supercritical fluid extraction. Finally, this invention controls the hardness of the mesophase product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing mesophase pitch in high yields. The process of the invention comprises isolating a heavy fraction of a heat soaked pitch by a solvent extraction, heat soaking the isolated heavy fraction to increase the size and number of larger heavy aromatics, and isolating the larger heavy aromatics by solvent extraction to obtain a larger heavy aromatic solvated mesophase pitch.

Abstract: A non air-blown low sulfur heavy aromatic mineral oil which does not produce acceptable isotropic coke when subjected to delayed coking is combined with an inorganic additive which promotes pyrolysis and which vaporizes during calcining and the combination is subjected to delayed coking to produce isotropic coke having a low CTE ratio. The isotropic coke is further processed (including calcination) to produce graphite logs used in nuclear reactors.