Dispersion of coal tar pitch for coating graphitic materials and use in Li-ion battery electrode production

Abstract

A dispersion, methods of making the same, applications of the dispersion to graphitic material and the resulting coated particles are disclosed. The dispersion includes ≤55% wt. coal tar pitch (softening point 100° C.-95° C.), ≤60% wt. dispersant, and the balance a non-aromatic solvent such as water or alcohol. Pitch particles in the dispersion are preferably ≤10 μm with a distribution of D50<15 μm. The pitch particles are micronized, such as by dry and/or wet milling with the dispersant and aqueous solvent to achieve the desired pitch particle size and distribution. This aqueous dispersion may be mixed with natural or synthetic graphitic material having a diameter of 5-20 μm in a ratio of 5%-30% pitch to graphite, dried and carbonized to form coated particles having a graphitic core at least partially coated by pitch particles.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.