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The effects of mild oxidation (burning) of two synthetic graphites on the reversible and irreversible capacities, anode‐degradation rate (on cycling) in three different electrolytes and graphite‐surface topology have been studied. STM images of both modified graphites show nanochannels having an opening of a few nanometers and up to tens of nanometers. It is believed that these nanochannels are formed at the zigzag and armchair faces between two adjacent crystallites and in the vicinity of defects and impurities. Mild burn‐off was found to improve performance in cells: is increased by 10–30%, is generally decreased (for less than 6% burn‐off) and anode degradation rate is much lower. Performance improvement is attributed to the formation of SEI chemically bonded to the surface carboxylic groups at the zigzag and armchair faces, and to accommodation of extra lithium at the zigzag, armchair, and other edge sites and nanovoids.
Peled et al. (Mon,) studied this question.