Natural graphite modified with nitrophenyl multilayers as anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Nitrophenyl multilayers of a few nanometers thickness were covalently attached to the surface of natural graphite via diazonium chemistry. The as-prepared graphite showed great improvements in the initial coulombic efficiency, specific capacity and cyclability as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Scanning electron microscope and electrochemical impedance measurements revealed that a compact, stable, and uniform solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film formed on the graphite surface. This study may provide a new strategy to modify conventional anode or even cathode materials by molecular design.